Role of the Waist/Height Ratio in the Cardiometabolic Risk Assessment of Children Classified by Body Mass Index

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the utility of waist/height ratio (WHtR) in the specification of cardiometabolic risk in children already stratified by body mass index (BMI).BackgroundReflective of its association with cardiometabolic risk, BMI is a commonly used indirect indicator of adiposity in children. The WHtR, a marker of central adiposity, has been advocated as a possibly superior indicator of cardiometabolic risk.MethodsCross-sectional analysis of 5 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2008 (ages 5 to 18 years of age). The BMI percentile categories (normal, overweight, and obese) were further stratified on the basis of WHtR (<0.5, 0.5 to <0.6, ≥0.6). Outcome measures were lipid and glycemic profiles, C-reactive protein, liver transaminases, prevalence of hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.ResultsData were available for 14,493 subjects. Overweight and obese subjects with a WHtR