title: Waist circumference in children and adolescents correlate with metabolic syndrome and fat deposits in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relevance of waist circumference (WC) measurement and monitoring in children and adolescents as an early indicator of overweight, metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular problems in young adults in comparison with visceral and subcutaneous adiposity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study with 159 subjects (51.6% female) started in 1999 with an average age of 13.2 years. In 1999, 2006 and 2008 weight, height, and WC were evaluated. In 2006 blood samples for laboratory diagnosis of MS were added. In 2008 abdominal computed tomography (ACT) to quantify the fat deposits were also added.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The WC measured in children and adolescents was strongly correlated with body mass index (BMI) measured simultaneously. A strong correlation was established between WC in 1999 with measures of WC and BMI as young adults. WC strongly correlated with fat deposits in ACT. The WC in 1999 expressed more subcutaneous fat (SAT), while the WC when young adults expressed strong correlation with both visceral fat (VAT) and SAT. The correlation of WC with fat deposits was stronger in females. WC and not BMI in 1999 was significantly higher in the group that evolved to MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WC in children and adolescents was useful in screening patients for MS. WC expressed the accumulation of abdominal fat; especially subcutaneous fat.
authors: Medical School of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do RS, Moinhos de Vento Hospital, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. jspolidoro@uol.com.br
authors: Jose Vicente
authors: JV
authors: Spolidoro
authors: Manoel L
authors: ML
authors: Pitrez Filho
authors: Luiz T
authors: LT
authors: Vargas
authors: João C
authors: JC
authors: Santana
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Pitrez
authors: Jorge A
authors: JA
authors: Hauschild
authors: Neide M
authors: NM
authors: Bruscato
authors: Emilio H
authors: EH
authors: Moriguchi
authors: Augusto K
authors: AK
authors: Medeiros
authors: Jefferson P
authors: JP
authors: Piva
mesh_terms: D050156:Adipogenesis; D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D050507:Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055105:Waist Circumference