Anthropometric measurements as a potential non-invasive alternative for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in adolescents

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify which anthropometric measurement would be the best predictor of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Brazilian adolescents. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional study conducted on 222 adolescents (15-17 years) from a city in southern Brazil. Anthropometric, physical activity, blood pressure and biochemical parameters were investigated. MetS criteria were transformed into a continuous variable (MetS score). Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the associations of BMI, hip circumference, neck circumference (NC), triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold and body fat percentage with MetS score. ROC curves were constructed to determine the cutoff for each anthropometric measurement. Results: The prevalence of MetS was 7.2%. Each anthropometric measurement was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with MetS score. After adjusting for potential confounding variables (age, sex, physical activity, and maternal education), the standardized coefficients of NC and body fat percentage appeared to have the strongest association (beta = 0.69 standard deviation) with MetS score. The regression of BMI provided the best model fit (adjusted R2 = 0.31). BMI predicted MetS with high sensitivity (100.0%) and specificity (86.4%). Conclusions: Our results suggest that BMI and NC are effective screening tools for MetS in adolescents. The early diagnosis of MetS combined with targeted lifestyle interventions in adolescence may help reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in adulthood.

Efeito independente do tipo de aleitamento no risco de excesso de peso e obesidade em crianças entre 12-24 meses de idade / Efecto independiente del tipo de lactancia en el riesgo de exceso de peso y obesity en niños entre 12-24 meses de edad / Independent effect of type of breastfeeding on overweight and obesity in children aged 12-24 months

Resumo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a importância do tipo de aleitamento no risco de excesso de peso de crianças entre 12-24 meses de idade. Trata-se de um estudo de coorte que incluiu 435 crianças nascidas em 2012 em uma maternidade pública de Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Dois anos após o parto, as mães e seus filhos foram contatados nas residências para uma nova coleta de dados. Na análise não ajustada, crianças que não receberam aleitamento materno exclusivo apresentaram maior risco de desenvolver excesso de peso aos dois anos de idade (OR = 1,6; p = 0,049), quando comparadas às crianças amamentadas exclusivamente. Mesmo após o ajuste para diversas covariáveis, o risco das crianças não amamentadas exclusivamente apresentarem excesso de peso aumentou 12% em relação à análise não ajustada (OR = 2,6 vs. OR = 1,8; p = 0,043). Adicionalmente, o peso ao nascer também mostrou ser um determinante independente do risco de excesso de peso (OR = 2,5; p = 0,002). A prática do aleitamento materno exclusivo pode reduzir o risco de excesso de peso em crianças de países em desenvolvimento como o Brasil.

Resumen: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la importancia del tipo de lactancia en el riesgo de exceso de peso de niños entre 12-24 meses de edad. Se trata de un estudio de cohorte que incluyó a 435 niños nacidos en 2012, en una maternidad pública de Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Tras dos años después del parto, se contactó con las madres y sus hijos en sus residencias para una nueva recogida de datos. En el análisis no ajustado, los niños que no recibieron exclusivamente el pecho materno presentaron mayor riesgo de desarrollar exceso de peso a los dos años de edad (OR = 1,6; p = 0,049), cuando se comparan con los niños amamantados exclusivamente. Incluso tras el ajuste para diversas covariables, el riesgo de que los niños no amamantados exclusivamente presentaran exceso de peso aumentó un 12%, en relación con el análisis no ajustado (OR = 2,6 vs. OR = 1,8; p = 0,043). Asimismo, el peso al nacer también mostró ser un determinante independiente del riesgo de exceso de peso (OR = 2,5; p = 0,002). La práctica de dar exclusivamente el pecho puede reducir el riesgo de exceso de peso en niños de países en desarrollo como Brasil.

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the effect of type of breastfeeding on the nutritional status of children between 12-24 months of age. This cohort study included 435 children born in 2012 in a public hospital in Joinville, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Two years after delivery the mothers and their children were contacted in their homes for a new investigation of demographic, economic, nutritional, and anthropometric data. In the unadjusted analysis, children who were not exclusively breastfed were more likely to be overweight (including obesity) at 2 years of age (OR = 1.6; p = 0.049) than exclusively breastfed children. After adjusting for several covariates, children who were not exclusively breastfed had a 12% higher risk of overweight including obesity compared to unadjusted analysis (OR = 2.6 vs. OR = 1.8; p = 0.043). In addition, birthweight was also an independent determinant of overweight including obesity (OR = 2.5; p = 0.002). The practice of exclusive breastfeeding can reduce the risk of overweight in children from developing countries such as Brazil.