title: Anthropometric markers for detection of the metabolic syndrome in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to estimate, in a large group of Algerian adolescents, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), using four definitions (by Cook, De Ferranti, Viner and the IDF), and to test the validity of unique thresholds of waist circumference, waist/height ratio and BMI in screening for the MetS regardless of the definition used.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1100 adolescent students, aged 12-18 y, were randomly selected from schools and classrooms in the city of Constantine; all had anthropometric measurements taken and 989 had blood tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalences of the MetS were: 2.6% for boys and 0.6% for girls by the Cook definition; 4.0% for boys and 2.0% for girls by the De Ferranti definition; 0.7% for boys and 0% for girls by the Viner definition; and 1.3% for boys and 0.5% for girls by the 2007 IDF definition. Prevalences ranged from 3.7% to 13.0% in obese adolescents. Unique thresholds, independent of gender, age and height, of 80cm for waist circumference, 0.50 for waist/height ratio and 25kg/m(2) for BMI had sensitivities of 72-100%, 67-100% and 72-100%, respectively, and specificities of 74-78%, 74-86% and 74-78%, respectively, depending on the MetS definition used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MetS is present in Algerian adolescents and the prevalence is especially high in obese young people. Our thresholds for waist circumference, waist/height ratio and BMI for screening for the MetS should now be tested in other adolescent populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, Ben Badis University Hospital, Metabolic diseases research laboratory, University of Constantine 3, 2500 Algeria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Benmohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology Nutrition, Jean-Verdier hospital, AP-HP, Paris-Nord University, CRNH-IdF, CINFO, 93140 Bondy, France. Electronic address: paul.valensi@jvr.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valensi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ben Badis University Hospital, Biology and genetics research laboratory, University of Constantine 1, 2500 Algeria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benlatreche
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology Nutrition, Jean-Verdier hospital, AP-HP, Paris-Nord University, CRNH-IdF, CINFO, 93140 Bondy, France.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Maison neuve Rosemont Hospital, Montreal University, H1T 2M4 Canada.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benmohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology Nutrition, Jean-Verdier hospital, AP-HP, Paris-Nord University, CRNH-IdF, CINFO, 93140 Bondy, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pariès
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, Ben Badis University Hospital, Metabolic diseases research laboratory, University of Constantine 3, 2500 Algeria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khensal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ben Badis University Hospital, Biology and genetics research laboratory, University of Constantine 1, 2500 Algeria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benlatreche
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, Ben Badis University Hospital, Metabolic diseases research laboratory, University of Constantine 3, 2500 Algeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lezzar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Adolescent; BMI; Cardiovascular risk; Insulin resistance; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Waist circumference; Waist circumference/height ratio