title: Sitting-height measures are related to body mass index and blood pressure levels in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sitting height (SH) is an important parameter in the evaluation of children with growth and pubertal disorders. Besides this, it has been viewed as a biomarker of cardiovascular risk, which is increased in adults with relatively short legs. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between body proportions and cardiovascular risk markers in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred and seventeen children aged 6-13 years were evaluated. Weight, height, sitting-height (SH), sitting-height/height (SH/H), body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) were assessed and converted to standard deviation scores (SDS) for age and sex. Statistical analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a positive association of BMI SDS with SH and SH/H SDS (p<0.001). Overweight children showed SH 0.8 SDS superior to eutrophic children (p<0.001). SH SDS was also directly related to BP SDS, but this association was not independent of the association between obesity and BP when assessed by multiple regression analyzes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measures of SH are strongly associated with BMI and BP in children, although the association between SH and BP is probably dependent on the association of both those variables with BMI. This is (an) important information for correct interpretation of SH values in children.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Universidade de Vila Velha, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniele Gasparini
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Marcato
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Universidade de Vila Velha, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica Dutra
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Universidade de Vila Velha, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Roberty Badiani
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Universidade de Vila Velha, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julyanna Silva Araujo de
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jesus
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy School, UVV, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeanne Teixeira Bessa
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fuly
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy School, UVV, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nayara Paula Bermudes
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Giovaninni
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, UVV, Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Everlayny Fiorot
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Costalonga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology