Associations between Anthropometrics, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Metabolic Syndrome Components in Brazilian...

To describe the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Brazilian adolescents with obesity, and to compare anthropometric and cardiorespiratory fitness measurements in relation to the presence of MS. Sixty-seven adolescents (13-18 years, 36 girls) with obesity (body mass index z-score ≥2.0) were enrolled. The following were assessed for each participant: anthropometrics, body composition, lipid profile, glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance, blood pressure (BP), and cardiorespiratory fitness. The presence of MS was found in 47.76% of the sample. The following abnormal measurements were most frequently reported: waist circumference (WC) (100.0%), BP (85.07%), and triglycerides (TG) (50.75%). Boys with obesity were more likely to meet MS criteria when compared to girls (P = 0.040; odds ratio = 2.80 [1.04-7.56]). The presence of MS in Brazilian adolescents with obesity in this study was 47.76%. Among this sample, the most frequently reported MS variables above the established cutoffs were WC (100%), followed by altered BP (85%) and TG (50%). These data further support previously published studies that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness may increase the risk of MS among adolescents with obesity.