Cardiometabolic risk profile based on body mass index in American Indian children and adolescents

SummaryBackground Childhood obesity is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. Objective To study the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic risk factors in American Indian children and adolescents. Methods Differences in metabolic variables by age and sex-specific BMI percentiles (2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Growth Charts) were examined in a cross-sectional analysis of 2977 individuals across three age categories. Children with an exam in two consecutive age categories were included in a longitudinal analysis. Spearman's correlations were used to test the association of BMI percentile with anthropometric and biochemical variables. Results Body mass index percentile correlated with systolic (r = 0.24 to 0.38) and diastolic (r = 0.13 to 0.22) blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.20 to 0.33), 2-h plasma glucose (r = 0.30 to 0.46), total cholesterol (r = 0.12 to 0.23), serum triglycerides (r = 0.40 to 0.51) and HDL cholesterol (r = −0.36 to −0.43) in each age group (5–9, 10–13 and 14–17 years). Among participants examined in multiple age categories, BMI percentile increased over time. Change in BMI percentile from one age category to the next was associated with an increase in fasting glucose, 2-h glucose and triglycerides and a decrease in HDL cholesterol. Conclusion Higher BMI was associated with blood pressure elevation, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia in American Indian children and adolescents.