An Investigation of the Utility of Waist Circumference Predicting Cardiorespiratory Fitness in School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

The Cardiorespiratory Fitness of Children and the Anthropometric Determinants During Late Childhood Within South East Wales: Potential Implications for Future Health

Objective. This study investigated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels and the relationship with field-based measures of anthropometry in children aged 10 to 11 years. Methods. A total of 288 boys and 257 girls participated in the study. CRF (20 m shuttle run) and several field-based measures of anthropometry were assessed. Multiple regression was utilized for all data analysis. Results. Boys performed significantly better than girls on the CRF test (P < .001) and achieved higher classifications of CRF based on centile norms compared to girls. All measures of anthropometry were significant predictors of CRF, (P < .001), and each measure was significant in predicting a negative trajectory of CRF performance when they increased in value (P < .05). Conclusion. The study findings add to the international reporting of CRF and the use of simple field-based measures of anthropometry alongside the use of BMI to predict CRF for health with Welsh school children (UK).

Comparison of Several Anthropometric Indices Related to Body Fat in Predicting Cardiorespiratory Fitness in School-Aged Children-A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Body fat (BF) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are important health markers that ought to be considered in screening exams. The aim of this study was to assess the value of six indicators, i.e., tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), relative fat mass (RFM), waist-BMI ratio, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) in predicting CRF in school-aged children. The analysis was based on the data coming from the examination of 190 children participating in school physical education (PE) classes. Their body weight (BW) and height (BH), waist and hip circumference (WC; HC) and percentage of body fat (%BF) were measured; the CRF test was performed with the use of the 20 m shuttle run test (20 mSRT); peak heart rate (HRpeak) was measured; TMI, relative fat mass pediatric (RFMp), waist-BMI ratio, WHtR, BMI and WHR were calculated. Statistical analysis was mainly conducted using regression models. The developed regression models, with respect to the sex and age of the children, revealed RFMp as the strongest CRF indicator (R2 = 51.1%) and WHR as well as waist-BMI ratio as the weakest ones (R2 = 39.2% and R2 = 40.5%, respectively). In predicting CRF in school-aged children, RFMp turned out to be comparable to body fat percentage obtained by means of the bioimpedance analysis (BIA) (R2 = 50.3%), and as such it can be used as a simple screening measure in prophylactic exams of school children. All of these models were statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Population-based references for waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios for children and adolescents, and evaluation of their predictive ability

Childhood obesity is a public health problem globally as well as in Poland. This paper aimed to provide age- and sex-specific waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio normative values for Polish children and adolescents aged 3 - 18 years for more precise monitoring of abdominal fat accumulation. The waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio references were constructed with the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method using data from two nationally representative health surveys: the OLA study and the OLAF study, the largest available paediatric surveys in Poland which provided measured height, weight, waist, hip and blood pressure for 22,370 children and adolescents aged 3 - 18 years. The predictive ability of newly established references for overweight/obesity as defined by the International Obesity Task Force criteria and elevated blood pressure was tested with receiver operating characteristic. Abdominal obesity cut-offs linked to adult cardiometabolic cut-offs were established. Reference values for waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio are presented, as well as waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio cut-off values linked to adult's cut-offs of cardiometabolic risk. The predictive value for overweight and obesity of population-based waist, hip and waist-to-height ratio references was outstanding-area under the receiver operating characteristic curve > 0.95 in both sexes, whereas with regard to the elevated blood pressure predictive ability was low-area under the receiver operating characteristic curve < 0.65.   Conclusion: This paper presents the first waist, hip, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio references for Polish children and adolescents aged 3-18 years. The 90th and 95th percentile and cut-offs linked to adult thresholds for cardiometabolic risk are proposed as cut-offs for abdominal obesity. What is Known: • Waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and waist-to-hip ratio are used to assess abdominal obesity in children and adults. • In Poland, there is no abdominal obesity and hip circumference references for children and adolescents from 3 to 18 years of age. What is New: • Population-based references of central obesity indices and hip references for children and youth aged 3-18 years and cardiometabolic risk thresholds for children and adolescents linked to adult's cut-offs were established.