Waist circumference is an independent predictor of insulin resistance in black and white youths.
OBJECTIVE
We examined how well waist circumference (WC) reflects total and abdominal fat and whether WC predicts insulin resistance independent of body mass index (BMI) percentile in youths.


METHODS
Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and abdominal adiposity by computed tomography. Insulin sensitivity was measured by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.


RESULTS
Both BMI percentile and WC were significantly associated (P < .01) with total and abdominal fat and insulin sensitivity. WC remained a significant (P < .01) correlate of total and abdominal fat and insulin sensitivity after controlling for BMI percentile. By contrast, BMI percentile did not remain a significant correlate of visceral fat and markers of insulin resistance after controlling for WC. Without exception, WC explained a greater variance in abdominal fat and metabolic profiles than did BMI percentile.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the prediction of health risks associated with obesity in youths is improved by the additional inclusion of WC measure to the BMI percentile. Such observations would reinforce the importance of including WC in the assessment of childhood obesity to identify those at increased metabolic risk due to excess abdominal fat.
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes Mellitus, Weight Management and Wellness Center, 3705 Fifth Avenue at DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
SoJung
S
Lee
Fida
F
Bacha
Neslihan
N
Gungor
Silva A
SA
Arslanian
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011384:Proinsulin / Q000097:blood; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D011384:Proinsulin