title: The relationship between body composition and selected metabolic syndrome markers in black adolescents in South Africa: the PLAY study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between body composition and selected markers of the metabolic syndrome in black adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The group consisted of 232 adolescent boys and girls aged 15-19 y attending two secondary schools in a low socio-economic status area of Potchefstroom, South Africa. Body mass (kg), stature (cm), and waist (WC) and hip circumferences were measured using standard methods. Body mass index and waist:hip ratio were calculated. Percentage body fat and lean body mass were measured by air displacement plethysmography. Fasting plasma insulin, fasting glucose, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with a high body fat percentage (boys >20%, girls >25%) had significantly higher serum leptin concentration than children with normal body fat percentage (boys, P = 0.005; girls, P < 0.0001). Girls with a high body fat percentage also reported significantly higher SBP (P = 0.004), diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.03), plasma insulin (P = 0.004), and HOMA-IR (P = 0.004) than girls with normal body fat percentage. Body fat percentage had a significant positive association with HOMA-IR (P = 0.02) and SBP (P = 0.02), respectively. A significant positive correlation was also found between plasma leptin concentration and body mass index (P < 0.0001), WC (P < 0.0001), body fat percentage (P < 0.0001), and fat:height index (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant positive association was found between body fat percentage and both SBP and HOMA-IR, respectively. Girls with a high body fat percentage had significantly higher BP, plasma insulin, and HOMA-IR than girls with normal body fat percentage, indicating risk of non-communicable diseases.
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation in the School of Biokinetics, Recreation, and Sport Science, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeelie
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Herculina S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kruger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin