title: [Waist circumference as indicator of body fat and metabolic alterations in teenagers: comparison among four references].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess diagnostic validity of four reference tables for waist circumference in female teenagers in order to detect lipid alterations, hyperinsulin, elevated homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), hyperleptinemia and excess of body adiposity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 133 female subjects, ranging from 14 to 19 years of age , were evaluated. All adolescents were recruited from public schools in Viçosa/MG. Blood samples were collected for determination of fasting plasma cholesterol total, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, insulin and leptin. Percentage of body fat was determined through tetrapolar electrical bioimpedance. Using the smallest abdominal measure it was possible to determine waist circumference and calculated values of sensibility, specificity, positive and negative predictive values. Waist circumference contingency tables were obtained using four criteria: Freedman et al., 1999; Taylor et al., 2000; McCarthy et al., 2001; and Moreno et al., 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, sensibility values were low for circumferences assessed and the highest values were obtained for the table of McCarthy et al., on the other hand, specificity values were high considering the table of Freedman et al. The positive predictive values were more relevant for total cholesterol and body fat percentage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cutoffs for waist circumference used by McCarthy et al. were the most appropriate for populational assessments. Freedman's et al. proposal is appropriate for clinical use since it presents higher specificity. In addition, it can substitute high costs exams, out of the professionals' reach such as insulin and leptin.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG. pf_pereira@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Patrícia Feliciano
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Hiara Miguel Stanciola
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Gisele Queiroz
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Joel Alves
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lamounier
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo Gouveia
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Peluzio
authors.forename: Silvia do Carmo Castro
authors.initials: Sdo C
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Silvia Eloiza
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Priore
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D012015:Reference Standards; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides