Anthropometric parameters and metabolic risks among amateur adolescent swimmers

OBJECTIVE: To estimate selected anthropometric variables and metabolic risks among amateur adolescent swimmers. DESIGN AND METHODS: In this cross sectional study, standard anthropometric measurements were made on 220 swimmers aged 11-21 years. Data were used to estimate anthropometric parameters and to assess metabolic risk by comparing participants’ measurements to standard cut-off points. RESULTS: Mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.23 ñ 3.85 kg/m3 and fell within the 3rd and 85th percentile for children. Mean waist circumference (WC) was 69.83 ñ 8.08 cm, and based on WC for age, 97.7% swimmers were at “low risk” and 2.3% were at “high risk” for becoming obese. Mean body fat percentage (BFP) was 21.20 ñ 9.27, with 55.1% swimmers classified as “normal fat” or optimal. The mean for visceral fat (VF) was 4.77 ñ 2.90. Mean skeletal muscle mass was 38.33 ñ 6.36%. Statistically significant differences were observed between mean values for height (p < 0.001), weight (p = 0.011), mid upper-arm circumference (MUAC) (p = 0.035), and VF (p = 0.033) for males and females. BMI measurements identified four swimmers as underweight, 39 and 19 as overweight and obese, respectively. WC measurement placed 35 swimmer in the “under fat” category, 32 in the “over fat” category, and 22 were considered “obese”. For VF, 1 swimmer recorded a high measurement while for percent skeletal muscle mass (SMM), 5 swimmers were classed as “very high,” 15 “high,” 9 “normal,” and 1 low. CONCLUSION: Based on BMI, WC, body fat percentages, and VF, the majority of swimmers had a healthy body composition and at low metabolic risk.

Insulin resistance, leptin and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in diabetic and non-diabetic Afro-Caribbean subjects

AIM: To determine how the levels of leptin and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) are associated with insulin resistance (IR) in obese, non-obese, diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. METHODS: 112 type 2 diabetics and 43 non-diabetics were studied fasting. Anthropometric indices were measured and glucose, insulin, leptin and MCP-1 were measured in blood. IR was calculated. RESULTS: MCP-1 level was significantly higher in diabetics than non-diabetics irrespective of gender (p < 0.05). Irrespective of diabetes status, the serum leptin concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in obese and females subjects than in non-obese and male subjects respectively. There were no significant correlations between IR and MCP-1 or leptin in all subgroups of subjects studied. General linear modelling analysis showed that only diabetes state significantly predicted MCP-1 levels (p < 0.05) whereas non of the factors predicted leptin levels (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Routine measurement of leptin and MCP-1 would be potentially useful in assessment of patients for the metabolic syndrome or coronary heart disease especially in black population.

Metabolic syndrome among Caribbean-born persons living in the U.S. Virgin Islands

OBJECTIVES. To determine the frequency of the metabolic syndrome (MS) among four subpopulations in the United States Virgin Islands and to estimate the risk for the MS that is associatd with waist circumference cutpoints among overweight and obese individuals. CONCLUSIONS. The frequency of the MS among Caribbean-born persons in the U.S. VirginIslands is comparable to the frequency of the MS among the general population on the mainland of the United States. Among Caribbean-born persons living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, those who are Hispanic blacks may have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease than do other groups (AU)

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in relation to socioeconomic status among Jamaican young adults: a cross-sectional study

Background: The metabolic syndrome has a high prevalence in many countries and has been associated with socioeconomic status (SES). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components among Jamaican young adults and evaluate its association with parental SES. Methods: A subset of the participants from the 1986 Jamaica Birth Cohort was evaluated at ages 18-20 years between 2005 and 2007. Trained research nurses obtained blood pressure and anthropometric measurements and collected a venous blood sample for measurement of lipids and glucose. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components were estimated using the 2009 Consensus Criteria from the International Diabetes Federation, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, American Heart Association, World Heart Federation, International Atherosclerosis Society, and International Association for the Study of Obesity. SES was assessed by questionnaire using occupation of household head, highest education of parent/guardian, and housing tenure of parent/guardian. Analysis yielded means and proportions for metabolic syndrome variables and covariates. Associations with levels of SES variables were obtained using analysis of variance. Multivariable analysis was conducted using logistic regression models. Results: Data from 839 participants (378 males; 461 females) were analyzed. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 1.2% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.5%-1.9%). Prevalence was higher in females (1.7% vs. 0.5%). Prevalence of the components [male: female] were: central obesity, 16.0% [5.3:24.7]; elevated blood pressure, 6.7% [10.8:3.3]; elevated glucose, 1.2% [2.1:0.4]; low HDL, 46.8% [28.8:61.6]; high triglycerides, 0.6% [0.5:0.6]. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome for any of the SES measures used possibly due to lack of statistical power. Prevalence of central obesity was inversely associated with occupation (highly skilled 12.4%, skilled 13.5%, semi-skilled/unskilled 21.8%, p = 0.013) and education (tertiary 12.5%, secondary 14.1%, primary/all-age 28.4%, p = 0.002). In sex-specific multivariate logistic regression adjusted for hip circumference, central obesity remained associated with occupation and education for women only. Conclusion: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is low, but central obesity and low HDL are present in 16% and 47% of Jamaican youth, respectively. Central obesity is inversely associated with occupation and education in females.