Obesity anthropometric indicators associated with cardiometabolic risk in Portuguese children and adolescents

- Body mass index and skinfold improved the prediction of cardiometabolic risk.
- Body mass index seems to be the best indicator of cardiometabolic risk factors.
- Anthropometric indicators are cost-effective screening of overweight/obesity.

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between cardiometabolic risk with body mass index and skinfold independently or in combination in youth. This cross-sectional study comprised a convenience sample of 450 children and adolescents (255 girls), aged 10 to 18 years old. Indicators of body composition were measured, and hemodynamic assessment completed. The association between body mass index and/or sum of skinfolds and cardiometabolic risk (z score of the sum of triglycerides/high density lipoprotein cholesterol, waist circumference, and mean blood pressure), was calculated using Generalized Linear Models Regression. The results showed that youngsters classified as overweight or obese with the highest skinfold measurements had the strongest association with cardiometabolic risk (< beta >: 2.60; IC 95%: 2.25-3.0) when compared with those exhibiting normal skinfold thickness (< beta >: 1.78; IC 95%: 1.30-2.20). Body mass index was most strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk (< beta >: 1.78; IC 95%: 1.3-2.2), in comparison to skinfold thickness, which was associated to a lesser extent (< beta >: 0.41; IC 95%: 0.34-0.49). Results of this cross-sectional study indicate that body mass index is more strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk than skinfold thickness. However when these two measures of overweight/obesity are combined, prediction of cardiometabolic risk is further improved. It is therefore important that public health professionals consider both body mass index and sum of skinfolds to better predict cardiometabolic risk in overweight and obese youth. Implications for future research include the use of longitudinal designs and inclusion of children from other racial/ethnic groups.