Anthropometric indicators as predictor of pre-diabetes in Indian adolescents

In India, there are approximately 41 million diabetics to date. Impaired glucose tolerance or pre-diabetes may occur as early as adolescence.

To find out the cut-off values of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference to predict pre-diabetes in adolescents in north India.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 526 students aged 17-19 years, in the Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University, Kanpur. A pre-tested questionnaire was used and the diagnostic criteria of the American Diabetic Association were applied. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis was used to assess the cut-offs of BMI and waist circumference for predicting prediabetes.

ROC analysis showed that BMI is a good predictor of prediabetes for both boys and girls.Area under the ROC curve was 0.828 for boys and 0.838 for girls, respectively. The cut-off values of BMI for predicting prediabetes were identified as ≥22.8kg/m² in boys and ≥20.5kg/m² in girls. Upon ROC analysis for waist circumference, it was observed that it was a good predictor of prediabetes both for boys (area under the curve 0.804) and girls (area under the curve 0.795). The cut-offs for waist circumference for predicting prediabetes were found to be ≥82.5cm for boys and ≥80.3cm for girls.

BMI and waist circumference estimation can be done for early detection of prediabetes in adolescents for further diagnostic evaluation and management.