Waist-To-Height Ratio, Lean Mass and Fat Mass in Preschool Children

Authors

  • Thais Costa Machado Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health (Faculdade de Saúde Pública- FSP), University of São Paulo (Universidade de São Paulo- USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Viviane G. Nascimento Department of Maternal and Child Health, FSP/USP. Lecturer at Paulista University (Universidade Paulista- UNIP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil;
  • Ciro João Bertoli Lecturer, Department of Medicine, University of Taubaté (Universidade de Taubaté - UNITAU), Taubaté, SP, Brazil;
  • Luiz Carlos de Abreu Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. Departamento de Saúde da Coletividade. Disciplina de Metodologia Científica.
  • Claudio Leone Full Professor, Department of Maternal and Child Health, FSP/USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3823/1876

Keywords:

body composition, preschool children, obesity, waist circumference.

Abstract

Introduction: Abdominal fat and the proportion of lean body mass have both been independently considered as risk factors leading to insulin resistance and to an increased risk of developing chronic diseases later in life. Objective: To analyse the relationship between the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and other body composition indicators in children aged 2-6 years at public childcare centres. Methods: This study consisted of a random, probabilistic cluster sampling of 9 of the 59 existing childcare centres (Taubaté-SP, Brazil), resulting in the evaluation of 950 preschool children. The body mass index z-score (zBMI) and internationally accepted cut-off points were used to evaluate their nutritional status. The z-score for the arm muscle area (zAMA) and arm fat area (zAFA) and the WHtR were used to evaluate their body composition. Analyses were performed using the parameters of central tendency, dispersion, proportions and correlations, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: The data indicated a direct correlation between the WHtR and zBMI (rP= 0.78), zAMA (rP= 0.52), zAFA (rP= 0.66) and the percentage of AFA (rP=0.54), with p <0.0001. There was an inverse correlation between the WHtR and the percentage of AMA (rP= -0.54), with p <0.0001. Conclusion: In preschool children, as the WHtR increases, the amounts of both lean body mass and body fat mass also increase. However, an increase in the waist circumference is accompanied by a disproportionately greater increase in fat mass compared to lean mass, which could indicate an additional risk factor for future chronic diseases.

 

 

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Published

2016-03-07

Issue

Vol. 9 (2016)

Section

Epidemiology

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