title: Body mass index, waist circumference, and arterial hypertension in students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to investigate what is the best anthropometric predictor of arterial hypertension among private school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  this was a cross-sectional study with 286 students between the ages of 10 and 14 from two private schools in the city of Paranavaí, Paraná, Brazil. The following variables were analyzed: body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure. Statistical analysis was conducted with Pearson's partial correlation test and multivariate logistic regression, with p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  both anthropometric indicators displayed weak correlation with systolic and diastolic levels, with coefficients (r) ranging from 0.27 to 0.36 (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the only anthropometric indicator associated with arterial hypertension was waist circumference (OR= 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5), regardless of age or gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this age group, waist circumference appeared to be a better predictor for arterial hypertension than body mass index.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Flávio Ricardo
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Guilherme
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual do Paraná, Maringá, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos Alexandre
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Molena-Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade Ingá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vânia Renata
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Guilherme
authors.affiliation: Departamento Educação Física, Universidade Estadual do Paraná, Paranavaí, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Martins
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fávero
authors.affiliation: Departamento Educação Física, Universidade Estadual do Paraná, Paranavaí, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eliane Josefa Barbosa
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: dos Reis
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health; D001158:Arteries; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013334:Students; D055105:Waist Circumference