title: BMI, body fat mass and plasma leptin level in relation to cardiovascular diseases risk factors among adolescents in Taitung.
abstract: To investigate the risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases and its relation to BMI, body fat mass and plasma leptin level among adolescents in Taitung, Taiwan.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional Taitung Children Heart Study for 500 young adolescents between ages 13 and 15 was conducted. Gender-specific regression models were used to determine the associations between BMI, percentage of body fat mass, plasma leptin level and seven CVDs risk factors (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) before and after adjusting for weight status and age.
  
  
  
  After adjusting for weight status and age, BMI was positively associated with systolic BP, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol levels but negatively associated with HDL-cholesterol level in boys while positively associated with systolic and diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, and LDL-cholesterol level in girls. The percentage of body fat mass was positively associated with triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol in boys while positively associated with systolic BP, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol in girls. Plasma leptin was positively associated with triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in boys but no statistically significant associations with CVDs risk factors in girls. A strong relationship between the percentage of body fat mass and plasma leptin appeared among all participants (r=0.59, p<0.01).
  
  
  
  BMI, body fat mass and plasma leptin level may be used to identify certain CVDs risk factors among Taitung adolescents. Future researches could consider measuring body fat mass in the relationship of CVDs risk factors instead of plasma leptin among young adolescents.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrington Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460, USA. Electronic address: yakew@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Ya-Ke
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Taitung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Executive Yuan, Taiwan, ROC; School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 114, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: chuepi369@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nain-Feng
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 114, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: qoo11142002@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ya-Hsien
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Sec. 6, Minquan E. Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 114, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: syu.jhuting@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jhu-Ting
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Syu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Tri-Service General Hospital, No. 325, Sec. 2, Chenggong Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 114, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: jinbiou@mail2000.com.tw.
authors.forename: Jin-Biou
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D020738:Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Adolescents; Body fat; Cardiovascular diseases; Leptin; Risk factors