Blood pressure, fatness, and fat patterning among USA adolescents from two ethnic groups.

Abstract

SUMMARY Many studies have explored the relationship between blood pressure and body size and composition in adults and preadults, but none has inquired into the relationship of blood pressure and the anatomical distribution of subcutaneous fat (fat patterning). Fat patterning has an association with chronic diseases (diabetes and cardiovascular disease) in adults. We sought the relationship between fatness, fat patterning, weight, and height among adolescents (12 to 17 years of age) of two ethnic groups (black and white) from the Health Examination Survey. Systolic blood pressure adjusted for age was related to body build variables in all sex/ethnic groups in decreasing order of importance as follows: body weight (independent of height), fatness (as assessed by a two skinfold index), and an excess of fat on trunk relative to fat on the leg (pattern index). Neither fatness nor fat patterning was significantly related to blood pressure after weight entered the regression equation. Relative fat patterning may be less important in pedicting cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents than it is in adults. The fact that body weight was more important than fatness suggests that the weight/blood pressure association is due to components of body mass other than body fat. and serum lipids 9 l0 to individual anatomical distribution of fat (fat patterning). Techniques for characterizing fat patterning have been developed that allow for examination of data available in youths that may relate to development of disease in later life." To our knowledge no one has examined the relationship between blood pressure and fat patterning in adolescents. This report utilizes techniques reported earlier 12 -14 to examine the relationship of fat patterning, fatness, and body size (height and weight) to levels of blood pressure in a sample from the United States Health Examination Survey (HES) Cycle III (12-to 17-year old adolescents). Materials and MethodsThe HES examined 6768 pers ons who comprised a probability sample of the 12-to 17-year-old civilian noninstitutionalized population in [1966][1967][1968][1969][1970]. Details of the survey design have been presented. 15 -16 Because the focus of this project was on blood pressure and the potential confounding effects of the several variables, individuals who fell into any of the following categories were excluded prior to sample selection: those with significant cardiovascular findings, those with a history of rheumatic fever, those with significant heart murmurs, twins, and "other" races (neither white nor black). The original sample from the HES Cycle III tape was reduced to 6243 as a result of the exclusions (table 1). For the analysis that follows, a stratified random sample was taken of 20% of the total sample (after exclusions) so that there were approximately equal numbers in the four race-sex categories (white males, black males, white females, and black females). The results of the sampling technique are shown in table 1.The variables used in the analysis include diastolic an...

Sex-related influence of body size and sexual maturation on blood pressure in adolescents

“…The association of percent body fat with BP, on the other hand, was weak and con®ned to SBP solely among boys. This ®nding is in agreement with previous studies (Vartiainen et al, 1986;Stallones et al, 1982) indicating that fatness and anatomical distribution of subcutaneous fat are not signi®-cantly associated with BP during childhood.…”

Effect of Birth Weight on Blood Pressure and Body Size in Early Adolescence

“…14,15 Portable instruments were used to measure weight (Healthometer) and height (Perspective Enterprises). Skinfold thickness was measured with Lange calipers.…”

Mini Review: Physical activity and fitness and its relations to cardiovascular disease risk factors in children

“…3,9,11,13,[19][20][21] The relationship between physical activity and blood pressure in children is confounded by body weight, because body weight increases in normal persons with increasing physical activity because of a gain in muscle weight, and body weight is an independent predictor of blood pressure. Shear et al 22 found a positive relationship between blood pressure and body fat in adolescents, but Stallones et al 23 found that the weight to blood pressure association was due to components of body weight other than body fat. 23 Further, because body weight is included in the measure of aerobic fitness, some of the effect of fitness disappears when the association is adjusted for weight, but there still remain a beneficial effect of a high fitness level left.…”

“…Shear et al 22 found a positive relationship between blood pressure and body fat in adolescents, but Stallones et al 23 found that the weight to blood pressure association was due to components of body weight other than body fat. 23 Further, because body weight is included in the measure of aerobic fitness, some of the effect of fitness disappears when the association is adjusted for weight, but there still remain a beneficial effect of a high fitness level left. 3,4 The main reason for the weak relationship is a large variation in both CVD risk factors and in physical activity variables.…”