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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Obesity indicators and cardiometabolic status in 4-y-old children
Camila Corvalán1, Ricardo Uauy, Juliana Kain
1Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. ccorvalan@meduchile.cl
Insights
Childhood obesity is common, but indicators like BMI and waist circumference poorly predict cardiometabolic risk factors in 4-year-olds. Further research is needed to understand these relationships in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- Obesity is linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults and adolescents.
- Evidence regarding these associations in preschool-aged children is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between obesity indicators and cardiometabolic risk factors in 324 Chilean children aged 4 years.
- To assess the prevalence of obesity, central obesity, and cardiometabolic risk in this population.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate general obesity indicators (e.g., BMI, body fat percentage) and central obesity indicators (e.g., waist circumference).
- Blood samples were analyzed for C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and lipid profiles (triglycerides, total, LDL, HDL cholesterol).
- Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to examine associations.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of obesity (13%), central obesity (11%), and lipid disorders (>20%) was observed.
- 70% of children had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor.
- Obesity indicators were moderately to strongly correlated with central obesity indicators.
- Obesity was weakly associated with C-reactive protein and insulin resistance in girls, but unrelated to interleukin-6 and lipid levels.
- Obesity indicators explained a maximum of 8% of the variability in cardiometabolic risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Obesity and central obesity are prevalent in 4-year-old Chilean children, with most exhibiting at least one cardiometabolic risk factor, especially lipid disorders.
- Obesity and central obesity indicators are highly intercorrelated but weakly associated with cardiometabolic status at this age.
- Body mass index and waist circumference are poor predictors of cardiometabolic status in preschool children.
Background:
In adults and adolescents, obesity is positively associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors; however, evidence in preschool children is scarce.
Objective:
The objective was to assess the relations between obesity indicators and cardiometabolic risk factors in 324 Chilean children 4 y of age.
Design:
We collected anthropometric measurements and calculated general indicators of obesity [weight, body mass index (BMI), sum of 4 skinfold thicknesses, percentage fat, and body fat index] and central obesity (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and truncal fatness based on skinfold thickness). We measured blood sample concentrations of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, triglycerides, and total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol. We used correlation and multiple linear regression analyses.
Results:
The prevalence of obesity (BMI-for-age z score >2, World Health Organization 2006), central obesity (> or = 90th percentile, third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), and lipid disorders was high (13%, 11%, and > or = 20%, respectively), and 70% of the children had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor. Most correlations between obesity and central obesity indicators were moderate to strong (0.40 < r < 0.96). Obesity was positively but weakly associated with C-reactive protein in both sexes and with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance only in girls (all r < 0.3, P < 0.05). Obesity indicators were unrelated to interleukin-6 and lipid concentrations (P > 0.05). Overall, obesity indicators explained, at most, 8% of the variability in cardiometabolic risk factors.
Conclusions:
Obesity and central obesity were common, and most of the children had at least one cardiometabolic risk factor, particularly lipid disorders. Obesity and central obesity indicators were highly intercorrelated and, overall, were weakly related to cardiometabolic status. At this age, body mass index and waist circumference were poor predictors of cardiometabolic status.
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