Association between anthropometric measures and insulin resistance in Brazilian adolescents: data from the national study of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents - ERICA

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate anthropometric measures (AM) and insulin resistance (IR) association in adolescents aged 12-17 years and investigates how body mass index (BMI) interrelates with specific indicators of fat distribution in this association.

Methods: This analysis is from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA) study, a national, cross-sectional study. AM was categorized by quartiles, and their means and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. The prevalence of IR was estimated for each AM according to the quartiles. The associations between AM and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were analyzed using Poisson models.

Results: 37,892 adolescents were included. IR prevalence tended to increase as quartiles increased for each AM. The association of BMI with IR persisted with the adjustment for others AM. The greatest reduction in the association's strength was achieved with the adjustment by the waist circumference (WC) and the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Most other AM were also associated with IR.

Conclusion: AM has a positive association with the prevalence of IR, and the joint effect of BMI and central adiposity measures should be considered in cardiometabolic risk evaluation in adolescents.

Keywords: adolescent; anthropometric measures; body mass index; cross-sectional studies; insulin resistance; public health.