Waist circumference is an independent predictor of insulin resistance in black and white youths

Objectives

We examined how well waist circumference (WC) reflects total and abdominal fat and whether WC predicts insulin resistance independent of body mass index (BMI) percentile in youths.

Study design

Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and abdominal adiposity by computed tomography. Insulin sensitivity was measured by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.

Results

Both BMI percentile and WC were significantly associated (P < .01) with total and abdominal fat and insulin sensitivity. WC remained a significant (P < .01) correlate of total and abdominal fat and insulin sensitivity after controlling for BMI percentile. By contrast, BMI percentile did not remain a significant correlate of visceral fat and markers of insulin resistance after controlling for WC. Without exception, WC explained a greater variance in abdominal fat and metabolic profiles than did BMI percentile.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the prediction of health risks associated with obesity in youths is improved by the additional inclusion of WC measure to the BMI percentile. Such observations would reinforce the importance of including WC in the assessment of childhood obesity to identify those at increased metabolic risk due to excess abdominal fat.

Abbreviations:  BMI, Body mass index , DEXA, Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry , WC, Waist circumference