Associations between Anthropometrics, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Metabolic Syndrome Components in Brazilian Adolescents with Obesity

• Published in: Metabolic syndrome and related disorders Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 36
• Main Authors: Colantonio, Emilson, de Souza, Felipe Granado, Botero, João Paulo, Malik, Neal, Lofrano-Prado, Mara Cristina, Lambertucci, Adriana Carneiro, Prado, Wagner Luiz do
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Adolescent; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Brazil - epidemiology; Cardiorespiratory Fitness; Female; Humans; Male; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Pediatric Obesity - complications; Pediatric Obesity - diagnosis; Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Triglycerides; Waist Circumference; Brazil; health; cardiovascular risk; obese; youth; body fat
• ISSN: 1557-8518
• DOI: 10.1089/met.2021.0064

To describe the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Brazilian adolescents with obesity, and to compare anthropometric and cardiorespiratory fitness measurements in relation to the presence of MS. Sixty-seven adolescents (13-18 years, 36 girls) with obesity (body mass index -score ≥2.0) were enrolled. The following were assessed for each participant: anthropometrics, body composition, lipid profile, glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance, blood pressure (BP), and cardiorespiratory fitness. The presence of MS was found in 47.76% of the sample. The following abnormal measurements were most frequently reported: waist circumference (WC) (100.0%), BP (85.07%), and triglycerides (TG) (50.75%). Boys with obesity were more likely to meet MS criteria when compared to girls (  = 0.040; odds ratio = 2.80 [1.04-7.56]). The presence of MS in Brazilian adolescents with obesity in this study was 47.76%. Among this sample, the most frequently reported MS variables above the established cutoffs were WC (100%), followed by altered BP (85%) and TG (50%). These data further support previously published studies that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness may increase the risk of MS among adolescents with obesity.