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Cross-sectional Associations between Anthropometric Measures and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Young Children

Abstract

Purpose: Associations between anthropometry and child cardiometabolic risk (CMR) are understudied. We investigated cross-sectional associations between body mass index (BMI) z-score, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), blood pressure (BP), and serum biomarkers (triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) among young children in the Guelph Family Health Study.Methods: This study included 210 children (1.5-6.2 years, from 171 families). Blood samples were provided by 46 of the participating children. BP and anthropometry were measured during a health assessment visit. Generalized estimating equations applied to regression models were used to determine associations between anthropometric measures and CMR factors, while controlling for relevant covariates.Results: WHtR was positively associated with diastolic BP ([Formula: see text] = 5.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.12, 10.3)) and glucose ([Formula: see text] = 0.50; 95% CI (0.21, 0.79)), total cholesterol ([Formula: see text] = 0.87; 95% CI (0.02, 1.73)) and negatively associated with insulin ([Formula: see text] = -0.01; 95% CI (-18.6, 2.54)). BMI z-score was negatively associated with HbA1c ([Formula: see text] = -0.13; 95% CI (-0.23, -0.04)), and WC was positively associated with HDL-C ([Formula: see text] = 0.04; 95% CI (0.00, 0.08)). No other associations were significant.Conclusions: WHtR, more so than BMI z-score or WC, may show promise as a noninvasive screening tool for lipid- and/or BP-related risk in early childhood.

Authors

Barssé DPM; Darlington G; Coyle-Asbil H; Breau B; Vallis LA; Khoury DE; Haines J; David WLM; Buchholz AC; Study OBOTGFH

Journal

Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, Vol. 86, No. 2, pp. 96–99

Publisher

Dietitians of Canada

Publication Date

June 1, 2025

DOI

10.3148/cjdpr-2025-005

ISSN

1486-3847
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