Relationship between Waist Circumference and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adolescents: Analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives@#High waist circumference (WC) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk (CVR) in adulthood. We investigated this association in adolescents. @*Methods@#We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data for 10–18-year-olds included in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (2005–2014). The association between WC and CVR factors was evaluated. We analyzed this relationship according to age. @*Results@#We analyzed 8,153 participants (4,319 boys and 3,834 girls) from the KNHANES. High WC was associated with increased incidence of CVR factors: hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 3.5 in boys, 1.9 in girls), high total cholesterol (OR, 3.9 in boys, 1.9 in girls), high triglycerides (OR, 4.9 in boys, 3.2 in girls), high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (OR, 5.0 in boys, 1.8 in girls), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (OR, 2.6 in boys, 3.0 in girls), and hyperglycemia (OR, 2.8 in girls). In boys, the association between high WC and hypertension, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol was noted in early adolescence. High WC was associated with high total cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol in middle adolescence. In girls, high WC was correlated with high total cholesterol, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol in early adolescence. High WC was shown to be associated with hyperglycemia in middle adolescence, and with hypertension and high LDL cholesterol in late adolescence. @*Conclusions@#High WC in adolescents is associated with increased CVR. The timing of this association differs according to sex and CVR factors.