Prevalence of cardiometabolic risk in a national sample of Costa Rican youth using the waist-height anthropometric indicator

Abstract

Central obesity is known as an indicator of cardiometabolic risk, but better anthropometric measures than Body Mass Index (BMI) are needed to detect it. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is an indicator of central adiposity and a strong predictor of cardiometabolic risk.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk in a representative sample of Costa Rican children and adolescents.

Patients and Method: Cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out with 2,684 students from 64 educational centers in Costa Rica. Validated questionnaires were applied to the students and their weight, height, and waist circumference were determined. Weight and body fat percentage of the students were determined with a Tanita model SC-331 S (without column). Height was measured with a SECA stadiometer model 217. The abdominal circumference was estimated using a tape measure. BMI and WHtR were calculated for each participant. The behavior of the indicator WHtR was analyzed with logistic regression models. All procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of INCIENSA.

Results: There was a strong and positive correlation between waist circumference and BMI (r = 0.748, p < 0.001, 56% of shared variance), and a positive and moderate correlation between WHtR and BMI (r = 0.611, p < 0.01, 37% of shared variance).

Conclusions: A third part of the student population of elementary, middle, and high schools (31.8%) is at cardiovascular and metabolic risk.