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. 2021 May 4;11(1):9524.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88951-9.

Distribution of waist-to-height ratio and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents: a population-based study

Hye Jin Lee  1 , Young Suk Shim  2 , Jong Seo Yoon  3 , Hwal Rim Jeong  4 , Min Jae Kang  5 , Il Tae Hwang  3
Affiliations

Distribution of waist-to-height ratio and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents: a population-based study

Hye Jin Lee et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) distribution and assess its relationship with cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents. A total of 8091 subjects aged 10-18 years were included from a nationally representative survey. Participants were classified into three groups: (1) < 85th, (2) ≥ 85th and < 95th, and (3) ≥ 95th percentile of WHtR. The WHtR distribution varied with sex and age. Whereas WHtR decreased from age 10-15 years in boys and from age 10-12 years in girls, it slightly increased thereafter. Compared to the < 85th percentile group, the WHtR ≥ 85th and < 95th percentile group had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.2 for elevated blood pressure (BP), 1.89 for elevated triglycerides (TGs), 1.47 for reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and 4.82 for metabolic syndrome (MetS). The ≥ 95th percentile group had an OR of 1.4 for elevated BP, 2.54 for elevated glucose, 2.22 for elevated TGs, 1.74 for reduced HDL-C, and 9.45 for MetS compared to the < 85th percentile group. Our results suggest that sex- and age-specific WHtR percentiles can be used as a simple clinical measurement to estimate cardiometabolic risk.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentile curves of the age- and sex-specific waist-to-height ratio of children and adolescents aged 10–18 years.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow chart of the study population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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