title: Single and combined effects of body composition phenotypes on carotid intima-media thickness.
abstract: Central fatness might be a more sensitive predictor of atherosclerotic changes in children than are total body fat measures. However, it is unclear whether a total body fat measure coupled with an estimate of a more central pattern of fat accumulation predicts increased carotid intima-media-thickness (cIMT) better than either measure alone.
  
  
  
  The objective of the study is to identify the ability of a combination of simple anthropometric screening tools or a combination of objective measures of body composition to predict cIMT.
  
  
  
  cIMT was assessed on the common carotid artery in 349 children aged 11-12 years old (183 girls). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were dichotomized according to established criteria and indices of total body (TBFI) and abdominal (ABFMI) fat were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and categorized (increased risk ≥85%). Single and combined associations among anthropometric and laboratorial measures with the risk of having increased cIMT (≥85%) and discriminatory performance were tested with logistic regression analysis and Receiver Operator Curve analysis.
  
  
  
  Children with higher total fatness (BMI and TBFI) or higher central pattern of fat accumulation (WC, WHtR and BFMI) were in higher risk for increased cIMT [odds ratio (OR): 2.08-3.24). The risk for increased cIMT was not higher among children who coupled high total and high central fatness (OR: 2.27-3.10).
  
  
  
  Combination of total and central measures of fat does not improve the prediction of increased cIMT in children. Simple surrogate measures of fatness can be used to predict increased cIMT urging special attention to those children who exhibit increased abdominal fat.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance - Exercise and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance - Exercise and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Santa-Clara
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance - Exercise and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance - Exercise and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.|Health and Fitness, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior - Polytechnic Institute of Santarem, Rio Maior, Portugal.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance - Exercise and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance - Exercise and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Minderico
authors.affiliation: Integrative Physiology Laboratory, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernhall
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance - Exercise and Health Laboratory, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Sardinha
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001823:Body Composition; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Body mass index; DXA; children; coupled; intima-media thickness; ratio; waist circumference