Association between body fat mass and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents in Bucaramanga, Colombia

BACKGROUND: Obesity is common among children and teenagers and is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in the adult age. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the association between the percentage of body fat and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents in the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: About 494 children and adolescents aged 10–20 years were studied. Laboratory tests were made for analyzing cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometric measurements. Percentage body fat was determined with Slaughter equation. Lineal regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and the percentage body fat. RESULTS: Prevalence of percentage body fat (>26%) was 46.1%. Variables associated with percentage body fat were HOMA-IR – insulin resistance, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Increase in percentage body fat is significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents in Bucaramanga. Early identification and intervention of this population at risk is fundamental.