Indicadores antropométricos relacionados à obesidade em adolescentes e adultos jovens com fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a phenomenon of global and increasing proportion, with social, psychological and physical consequences, being associated with a higher risk of mortality from chronic non-communicable diseases. Objective: To evaluate anthropometric indicators related to obesity in adolescents and young adults with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte. Method: This is a cross-sectional quantitative study of 84 individuals with a mean age of 19.07 ± 2.63 years old. Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), Waist Stature Ratio (WSR), Conicity Index (CI) and Body Fat Percentage (% BF) were evaluated. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 23.0, with descriptive analysis (mean, standard deviation and percentage). The Student’s t test was applied to analyze the difference between the means, and for correlations between anthropometric indicators used as Pearson's correlation, both with p <0.05. Results: The highest prevalence was female, 81.0% in adolescents and young adults. WC and WSR are higher in boys and adults (76.11 ± 8.36 cm and 86.28 ± 14.08) and (0.78 ± 0.04 cm and 0.83 ± 0.01), respectively. Obesity was predominant in females among adolescents, 14.7%, and in males among young adults, 28.6%. BMI and %BF, in young adults, correlated strongly and moderately, respectively, with WC (r=0.914-0.494, p<0.001) and WSR (r=0.739-0.391, p<0.05). In adolescents, %BF was moderately correlated with WC (r=0.407) and WSR (r=0.575), with p<0.05. Conclusion: WC and WSR showed moderate strong correlations with BMI and %BF, better reflecting overweight in the studied population. Although they are simple measures, they can be used in clinical practice in the absence of other instruments for assessing body composition, such as the adipometer.