Systolic pressure, abdominal obesity and body fat, metabolic syndrome predictors in Spanish preschoolers.

Ana Isabel Gutiérrez Hervás, María Mercedes Rizo Baeza, Natalia Martínez Amorós, Ernesto Cortés Castell

The aim of this paper is to determine the presence of metabolic syndrome predictors in 2-to-7- year-old children according to nutrition state. A descriptive study with quantitative analysis was conducted in 260 2-to-7-year-old children (135 girls and 125 boys), 66% of the total census. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured and BMI, body fat by Hoffman and waist-to-height ratio (ICT) were calculated. Subgroups according BMI Z-Score by age and gender (low weight, normal weight, overweight and obesity), body fat (normal and excess), ICT (normal and abdominal obesity) and systolic pressure (normotensive and hypertensive by age and gender) were performed. BMI Z-Score classification was primary endpoint used. Combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 27%, with no difference by sex. Nutritional state was significantly associated with blood pressure, body fat and abdominal obesity as waist-to-height ratio. Higher percentage of obese children had high systolic blood pressure versus normal weight children (OR = 4.1; 95% CI 1.7-9.8; p <0.001). Higher hypertension risk was found in abdominal obesity group (OR = 84.4, 95% CI 17.8-194.0; p <0.001). ICT correlates with groups of systolic blood pressure (p <0.001). Distribution by ICT is consistent with the BMI Z-Score ones, increasing abdominal obesity with BMI (in 96.8% of obese match both criteria). A direct relation between overweight and obesity with hypertension, body fat and abdominal obesity in preschoolers is presented. It is showed the validity of accessible anthropometric (ICT and body fat percentage) to study metabolic syndrome risk factors.