Waist circumference as a predictor of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in obese girls

Objectives: (a) to explore the relationship between waist circumference and certain cardiovascular risk factors in a group of girls; and (b) to assess the clinical relevance of waist circumference in identifying girls with higher cardiovascular risk across puberty. Subjects and methods: One-hundred and fifty-five overweight or obese girls aged 5-16y were recruited. Overweight and obesity were defined on the basis of BMI, according to Cole. Results: Waist circumference was significantly correlated with plasma insulin (r = 0.43; P <0.001), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.22; P = 0.007) and IR HOMA (r = 0.40; P <0.001). A multivariate linear correlation analysis showed that, when adjusted for age and Tanner stage, waist circumference was significantly associated with plasma insulin (r 2 = 0.23; P <0.01), IR HOMA (r 2 = 0.17; P <0.02), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r 2=0.20; P=0.006 and r 2 = 0.32; P