Relationship between body adiposity indicators in adolescents from a municipality in the state of Maranhão

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the relationship between body adiposity indicators. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study that investigated the variables of age, sex, education level, and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, and neck circumference). A quantitative analysis of the data was performed, which was processed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences® (SPSS) software. The final sample consisted of 112 adolescents, with a predominance of females (50.9%) and a higher concentration in the 11 to 14 age group (n = 98; 87.5%). The mean age of the participants was approximately 13 years. Results: Differences between sexes were observed in the variables of waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and neck circumference. Furthermore, the age group showed differences in the variables of body mass index, waist circumference, and neck circumference. A relationship was found between body mass index and waist-to-height ratio (p < 0.001), as well as between waist circumference and neck circumference (p = 0.003) in both sexes. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed a correlation among anthropometric indicators, reinforcing the importance of these variables in clinical practice. Moreover, these findings stem from the fact that these indicators—being easy to apply, low cost, and widely used in healthcare routine—can act in a complementary manner in screening and monitoring cardiometabolic risk in adolescents, strengthening their applicability in clinical practice and public health actions.