Journal List > Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr > v.14(4) > 1043525

Kim and Hong: Waist-to-height Ratio, a Simple and Practical Index for Screening of Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome Aged 17~19 Years

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the validity and usefulness of the waist circumference-to-height ratio (WHtR) in screening for metabolic syndrome in Korean adolescents aged 17~19 years.

Methods

Data (body mass index, waist circumference, and height) and blood samples were obtained from adolescents in A University Hospital in 2011. This study included 554 adolescents (176 boys and 378 girls) aged 17~19 years. Dependent variables were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Using the Pearson's correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis, we measured the WHtR against Body mass index (BMI).

Results

An assessment was carried out of the ability of the 2 indexes to 1) account for the variability in each metabolic risk factor and 2) correctly identify adolescents with metabolic risk factors. The results revealed that the predictive abilities of the waist-to-height ratio index were better values. The waist-to-height ratio showed superior values in predicting concentrations of DBP, FBS, TC, TG and LDL-C. However, BMI showed better values in identifying adolescents with high systolic blood pressure and HDL-C. 3) Normal weight adolescents (BMI: 5th≤BMI<85th percentiles) were divided by WHtR (obesity cutoff value: ≥0.51 in male, ≥0.49 in female). WHtR was better than the BMI index for signaling metabolic risk in the normal-weight adolescents.

Conclusion

The WHtR is a better predictor for finding metabolic risk factors in adolescents aged 17~19 years with normal BMI. The WHtR is proposed as an alternative, convenient measure of screening metabolic syndrome for adolescents aged 17~19 years independent of age and sex.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Definition of Metabolic syndrome in Children and adolescents (by Cook et al.15)) and in Adults (by NCEP-ATIII16))
kjpgn-14-385-i001

MS is defined as having 3 or more of the following 5 factors. *In Asian: ≥90 cm in men, ≥80 cm in women. MS: metabolic syndrome, NCEP-ATIII: National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III, WC: waist circumference, TG: triglycerides, HDL-C: high density cholesterol.

Table 2
Metabolic Characteristics of the Study Population
kjpgn-14-385-i002

p value. Values are means±SD or n (%). p values are from t-tests or chi-square tests for analysis of variance for continuous variables and categorical variables. SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, Ht: height, Wt: weight, BMI: body mass index, WC: waist circumference, WHtR: waist-to-height ratio, FBG: fasting blood glucose, TC: total cholesterol, TG: triglycerides, HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Table 3
Pearson's Correlation between Anthropometric and Metabolic Characteristics
kjpgn-14-385-i003

Data are correlation coefficients. *p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001. BMI: body mass index, WHtR: waist-to-height ratio, SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, FBG: fasting blood glucose, TC: total cholesterol, TG: triglycerides, HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Table 4
Clinical Features, Prevalence of Metabolic Risks, in Normal BMI Adolescents Aged 17~19 Years Classified by WHtR
kjpgn-14-385-i004

Data are correlation coefficients. *p<0.05, p<0.01. BMI: body mass index, WHtR: waist-to-height ratio, SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, HDL: high-density lipoprotein, LDL: low-density lipoprotein.

Table 5
Odds Ratios (95% CI) for Metabolic Risks, in Adolescents Aged 17~19 Years Classified by WHtR, Adjusted by Age and BMI
kjpgn-14-385-i005

Data are correlation coefficients. *p<0.05. BMI: body mass index, WHtR: waist-to-height ratio, SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

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