title: Body mass index and waist circumference predictors of cardiovascular risk in African Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to determine which measure of obesity is better at predicting cardiovascular risk in African Americans. We hypothesized that BMI alone would be significantly associated with cardiovascular reactivity. We also hypothesized that waist circumference alone would be significantly associated with cardiovascular reactivity. Lastly, we hypothesized that BMI and waist circumference together would be more associated with cardiovascular reactivity and account for more of the variance than the two measures alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  BMI and waist circumference were measured in 105 African American college students (21 men and 84 women) aged 18-27. In addition, heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured as the participants viewed a racially noxious scene on videotape.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMI and waist circumference analyzed separately were significantly associated with stroke volume, cardiac output, and systolic blood pressure. These positive associations showed that heavier participants had higher systolic blood pressure and their hearts pumped out greater blood volume compared to their thinner counterparts. Body mass index also completely mediated the relationship between waist circumference and cardiovascular activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings may be attributed to the premise that the waist circumference standards are different for African Americans than for Whites. Future research should establish waist circumference thresholds that are better predictors of cardiovascular disease in African Americans.
authors: Department of Psychology, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia 23806, USA. vrclark@vsu.edu
authors: Vernessa R
authors: VR
authors: Clark
authors: Byron
authors: B
authors: Greenberg
authors: Toni S
authors: TS
authors: Harris
authors: Bernice L
authors: BL
authors: Carson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult