Associations between body shape, body adiposity and other indices: a case study of hypertension in Chinese children and adolescents

• Main Authors: Yinghe Tong (Author), Euna Han (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group, 2019-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0301-4460; 1464-5033; 10.1080/03014460.2019.1688864
• Keywords: absi; bai; hypertension; children and adolescents; chinese; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Human anatomy; QM1-695; Physiology; QP1-981
• Source: Annals of Human Biology, Vol 46, Iss 6, Pp 460-466 (2019)

Background: A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and the Body Adiposity Index (BAI) are used to quantify body shape for adults. However, only a few studies have been conducted confirming whether ABSI or BAI is a better index for predicating hypertension and pre-hypertension in Chinese children and adolescents. Aim: To estimate scaling exponents for using ABSI with Chinese children and adolescents, comparing body shape indices used for predicting hypertension and pre-hypertension and determine which obesity indices can serve as predictors. Subjects and methods: Data from children and adolescents aged 7-17 years in the 2011 Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey were analysed. Partial correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristics analysis were applied. Results: The area under curve (AUC) values for all the predictors are better for differentiating hypertension than pre-hypertension. Body Mass Index (BMI) gave the largest AUC in both children and adolescents. ABSI and ABSI-(C) (ABSI for Chinese children and adolescents) were unable to differentiate hypertension or pre-hypertension in the population. BAI could only differentiate pre-hypertension in girls aged 7-12 years (AUC = 0.353, p < 0.05). Conclusion: ABSI, ABSI-(C) and BAI are not more associated with hypertension or pre-hypertension than BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio in Chinese children and adolescents.