Relationship between body mass index and metabolic syndrome risk factors among US 8- to 14-year-olds, 1999 to 2002.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome risk factors (MSRF) and examine the relationship between body mass index and the prevalence of >or=3 MSRF in 8- to 11- and 12- to 14-year-old age groups.


METHODS
Combined 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were analyzed (N = 1698). Prevalence of normal weight, at-risk for overweight, and overweight were determined. Prevalence of >or=3 MSRF (abnormal waist circumference, glucose, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were reported using (1) an age, sex, and ethnicity-adjusted and (2) a crude profile (no adjustments).


RESULTS
Among overweight 8- to 11-year-old children, 6.5% (95% CI, 3.82 to 10.86) had >or=3 MSRF using the crude profile and 9.51% (95% CI 5.59 to 15.71) using the adjusted profile. Among overweight 12- to 14-year-olds, 43.76% (95% CI, 33.27 to 54.85) had >or=3 MSRF using the crude profile and 26.28% (95% CI, 16.71 to 38.78) using the adjusted profile.


CONCLUSIONS
A substantial number of overweight 8- to 14-year-olds have >or=3 MSRF, indicating that overweight in early adolescence may put children at risk for adult-onset cardiovascular disease and/or type 2 diabetes well before they become teenagers.
Messiah
Sarah E
SE
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Clinical Research, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA. smessiah@med.miami.edu
Arheart
Kristopher L
KL
Luke
Barbara
B
Lipshultz
Steven E
SE
Miller
Tracie L
TL
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data