title: Relationship between sitting-height-to-stature ratio and adiposity in Brazilian women.
abstract: Inadequate anthropometric dimensions, such as short leg length or high sitting-height-to-stature ratio (SHSR) in adults, can be considered indices of adverse environmental conditions in early life. Our objective was to describe the association between SHSR, a variable of prepubertal environment, and levels of adiposity in a group of Brazilian women. Six hundred and sixty-nine women aged 20-55 years were studied through a cross-sectional design. Detailed anthropometric measurements were obtained according to standardized procedures. Body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m2, percent body fat (% BF) measured through bioelectrical impedance >30, and the third tertile of six skinfold sums (SKF sum) were treated as dependent variables. High SHSR was defined as values > or = mean + 1 SD. Data analysis was performed using nonconditional hierarchical multivariate logistic regression, estimating adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the three dependent variables. Thirty-two percent of women who had high SHSR had low stature, compared with 13.8% in the group with normal SHSR (P < 0.000). After adjustment for age, schooling, total family income, parity, and age of menarche, high SHSR was still associated with BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.31-4.60), % BF >30 (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.11-3.61), and SKF sum (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.33-3.35). These results support the hypothesis that high SHSR, a variable of prepubertal adverse environmental conditions, is independently associated with adiposity in this group of Brazilian women. Responsible factors for high SHSR, other than genetics, should be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Nursing and Public Health, School of Nursing, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. guveme@ufmg.br
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Velásquez-Meléndez
authors.forename: Erika Aparecida
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allencastro-Souza
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kac
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors