Neck circumference as predictor of excess body fat and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents

OBJECTIVE:To verify whether neck circumference can predict cardiovascular risk factors and excess body fat in adolescents.METHODS:This cross-sectional study included male and female adolescents aged 10 to 14 years from Viçosa, Minas Gerais. The following data were collected: anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, percentage of body fat according to dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and levels of fasting glucose, fasting insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein. The anthropometric measurements were used for calculating indices and assessing nutritional status. The receiver operating characteristic curve tested whether neck circumference could predict cardiovascular risk. We also investigated how neck circumference related to the study parameters. The significance level was set at 5% (p<0.05).RESULTS:A total of 260 adolescents were assessed of which 50.4% (n=131) were females, 20.4% (n=53) had excess body weight according to the body mass index-for-age index, and 42.7% (n=111) had excess body fat. Blood pressure (3.9%, n=10) and all biochemical parameters were affected, varying from 1.9% (n=5) for glucose to 65% (n=169) for total cholesterol. Neck circumference correlated with body fat, waist circumference, hip circumference, weight, height, body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, homeostasis model of assessment - insulin resistance, fasting insulin, blood pressure, and high-density lipoprotein (<0.05). It predicted excess body fat and changes in fasting insulin and blood pressure in both sexes, blood glucose and high-density lipoprotein in females, and triglycerides in males (area under the curve >0.5; p<0.05, varying from 0.610 for high-density lipoprotein to 0.817 for blood pressure).CONCLUSION:Neck circumference was capable of predicting excess fat and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents.

研究目的：验证颈围是否可预测青少年的心血管危险因素与体脂过剩情况。
研究方法：本横断面研究纳入了来自米纳斯吉拉斯州维索萨市的10至14岁男女青少年。收集的资料包括：人体测量学指标、血压、双能X线吸收法（dual energy X-ray absorptiometry）测定的体脂百分比，以及空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素、甘油三酯、总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白、低密度脂蛋白水平。利用人体测量学指标计算相关指数并评估营养状况。通过受试者工作特征曲线（receiver operating characteristic curve）检验颈围能否预测心血管风险，并探究颈围与各项研究参数的相关性。设定显著性水平为5%（p<0.05）。
研究结果：共评估260名青少年，其中50.4%（n=131）为女性；按年龄别体质指数标准，20.4%（n=53）存在体质量过剩，42.7%（n=111）存在体脂过剩。血压异常率为3.9%（n=10），各项生化指标均存在异常，异常率范围为1.9%（n=5，血糖）至65%（n=169，总胆固醇）。颈围与体脂、腰围、臀围、体重、身高、体质指数、腰围身高比、胰岛素抵抗稳态模型评估指数、空腹胰岛素、血压及高密度脂蛋白均呈显著相关（p<0.05）。颈围可预测两性的体脂过剩、空腹胰岛素与血压异常，女性的血糖与高密度脂蛋白异常，男性的甘油三酯异常（曲线下面积>0.5；p<0.05，范围为高密度脂蛋白的0.610至血压的0.817）。
研究结论：颈围能够预测青少年的体脂过剩与心血管危险因素。