Relationship of serum cholesterol and truncal body fat distribution among Mexican Americans is accentuated by obesity

The relationship of body fat distribution to serum cholesterol levels was evaluated in a sample of 3,040 Mexican Americans 18–74 years of age from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) conducted from 1982–1984. Fat distribution was determined by the ratio of trunk to extremity skinfold thicknesses, while the sum of skinfold thicknesses was used as an indicator of total body fat. Results of this study indicate that: 1) Mexican Americans are significantly fatter and have a higher trunk/extremity skinfold ratio than U.S. standards; 2) despite their higher level of total body fat and truncal fat, Mexican Americans have lower serum cholesterol levels than U.S. standards; 3) Mexican American males at the same percentile level of fatness or trunk/extremity skinfold ratio have significantly higher serum cholesterols than females, despite the fact that females have higher absolute values of fat and truncal fat than males; 4) among Mexican American males the association between truncal fat distribution and hypercholesteremia increases with level of fatness. In other words, in Mexican American males the association of truncal fat distribution with hypercholesteremia is accentuated by obesity. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Body fat distribution and job stress in Mexican-American men of the hispanic health and nutrition examination survey

A positive relationship between psychosocial stress and central body fat distribution has been hypothesized. To test this hypothesis, two indices derived from principal components analysis of four skinfold measurements were studied in relation to imputed job stress characteristics (decision latitude, skill discretion, decision authority, and psychological demands) in Mexican-American men of the U.S. Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES). The two indices were fatness and central body fat distribution. Fatness was not significantly associated with any of the job stress characteristics before controlling for education. Once education was included in the equations, however, the relationship between fatness and two of the four job stress variables (decision authority and psychological demands) became statistically significant. Thus, for a given level of education, increasing job stress was associated with increasing fatness. Three of the four job stress characteristics were significantly associated with central body fat distribution before controlling for education. However, after education was entered into the regression equations as a proxy for social class, the relationships between central body fat distribution and the job stress variables were no longer significant. It thus appears that aspects of social class other than job stress are of equal or greater importance in predicting body fat distribution. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Androgyny in fat patterning is associated with obesity in adolescents and young adults

Recent work suggests that android or male-type obesity is characterized by fat cell enlargement on the trunk and upper body. This implies adult differences in patterns of body fat distribution may have developmental origins connected with differences in maturation or age of onset of obesity. To investigate this, we studied adolescent females (N = 455, 12 years), males (N = 527, 14 years) and young adults (N = 393 females and N = 413 males, 17 years) of the US Health Examination Survey. Five skinfolds and five maturity indicators were available. Individuals were classed as normal weight, overweight or obese on the basis of the body mass index (WT/HT2). Fat patterning was studied by principal components analysis of the log residual skinfold thickness at the five sites, which revealed trunk/extremity and upper/lower trunk fat distribution components in all sex/age groups studied. The means of both components were significantly (P less than 0.05) greater in obese than in normal weight individuals indicating that obesity in adolescence and young adulthood consists of fat concentrated on the upper aspect of the trunk. The effect was independent of maturity, which was a significant correlate of the trunk/extremity patterning component only and in males only. Advanced physiological maturity is probably not a determinant of adult patterns of body fat distribution, but obesity which occurs in adolescence may be.     

Parity,adiposity, and body fat distribution among Hispanic women

The relationship between parity and body fat distribution was investigated in a sample of 1,590 Mexican American, 411 Cuban American, and 657 Puerto Rican women, aged 20–74 years. Participants were interviewed and examined as part of the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of Hispanic populations residing in the United States. In each ethnic group, there was an increase with greater parity in overall body fat (body mass index [BMI], or triceps plus subscapular skinfolds), central vs. peripheral skinfold thicknesses (subscapular/triceps ratio), and upper vs. lower body skinfold thicknesses (subscapular/calf ratio). These positive associations remained after adjusting for age, income, marital status, smoking, menopausal status, and education. They were statistically significant only in the Mexican American group. After controlling for the BMI, the association between parity and the subscapular/ calf ratio remained significant in Mexican Americans, suggesting a relationship between parity and upper body fat distribution independent of body size. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Racial and ethnic disparities in childhood asthma diagnosis: the role of clinical findings

OBJECTIVES: To establish rates of childhood asthma symptoms, diagnosis, and hospitalization by race, ethnicity, and income, and to ascertain if elevated reported prevalence of asthma diagnosis among African-American children could be explained by differences in clinical findings. METHODS: Estimates of each indicator were calculated based on data from the third National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey (NHANES III). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were estimated to predict parent or guardian report of current asthma diagnosis. RESULTS: African-American children aged 1 to 5 have a 2-fold higher probability of both asthma diagnosis and hospitalization during the previous year but no significant difference in wheeze prevalence compared to Mexican-American and European-American children. These differences are not explained by household income or clinical information. Children aged 6 to 16 had similar rates of diagnosis and hospitalization for all racial/ethnic groups, although African-American children reported wheeze symptoms one-third less often. CONCLUSIONS: Although younger African-American children have higher morbidity from asthma than their Mexican-American and European-American peers, clinical findings were similar and did not explain increased rates of diagnosis. Interpersonal dynamics within families and communication between families and clinicians are believed to influence both symptom reporting and diagnosis generation.     

Body Fat Percentile Curves for Korean Children and Adolescents: A Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2010

A valid assessment of obesity in children and adolescents is important due to significant change in body composition during growth. This study aimed to develop percentile curves of body fat and fat free mass using the Lambda, Mu, and Sigma method, and to examine the relationship among body mass index (BMI), fat mass and fat free mass in Korean children and adolescents, using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2009-2010. The study subjects were 834 for boys and 745 for girls aged between 10 and 18 yr. Fat mass and fat free mass were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The patterns of development in body fat percentage, fat mass and fat free mass differed for boys and girls, showing a decreased fat mass with an increased fat free mass in boys but gradual increases with age in girls. The considerable proportion of boys and girls with relatively normal fat mass appeared to be misclassified to be at risk of overweight based on the BMI criteria. Therefore, the information on the percentiles of body fat and fat free mass with their patterns would be helpful to complement assessment of overweight and obesity based on BMI for Korean children and adolescents.     

Relative leg length as a biological marker to trace the developmental history of individuals and populations: growth delay and increased body fat.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences in leg length index are related to differences in body fat. The study included a cross-sectional sample of 21,021 subjects ranging in age from 2 to 90 years who had anthropometric information and poverty income ratio that participated in the third National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES III) of the United Stated conducted during 1988-1994. Of the total 21,021 participants, 7,810 were non-Hispanic white (3,900 men and 3,910, women), 8,134 were African-American black (3,127 men and 2,889 women) and 6,237 were Mexican-American (3,221 and 3,016 women). In both males and females and in all three ethnic groups and across socio-economic status (measured by the poverty income ratio) a low leg length index is associated with increased body fat (measured by skinfold thickness) when compared with those with high leg length index. It is postulated that a low leg length index reflects the consequence of negative environmental conditions leading to growth delay. Previous studies indicate that individuals exposed both during development and adulthood to under-nutrition respond through inter-related physiological mechanisms oriented at improving energetic efficiency and low oxidation of fat. These interrelated compensatory physiological adjustments work together to promote fat storage among growth delayed individuals or populations.     

Periodontal disease as one possible explanation for the Mexican paradox

Mexican-American women have similar low socio-economic status as compared to Non-Hispanic Blacks. However, Mexican-American women have consistently been shown to have a lower rate of low birth weight births as compared to Non-Hispanic Blacks and similar to Non-Hispanic Whites. This phenomenon is referred to as the "Mexican paradox", and the explanation for this is still unclear. We used data from the third US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) to compare the rate of periodontal disease in Non-Hispanic Black, Non-Hispanic White and Mexican-American pregnant and non-pregnant women. We found that Mexican-American women have a lower rate of periodontal disease before and during pregnancy when compared to Non-Hispanic Blacks. Since periodontal disease has been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, we hypothesize that the lower prevalence of periodontal disease before and during pregnancy among Mexican-American women may contribute to the "Mexican paradox".     

Growth of native Hawaiian school children: II. Body mass index and skinfold measurements

Annual measurements of skinfold thicknesses at six sites (triceps, biceps, medial calf, subscapular, abdominal, and suprailiac) and the body mass index have been obtained from a sample of native Hawaiian school children and their non-Hawaiian classmates in a four year semilongitudinal study. Four cohorts were measured, with the children beginning the study in grades one, four, seven and ten, respectively. Information on percentage of Polynesian ancestry, identity with Hawaiian culture, social class, and income were obtained from family interviews for the native Hawaiian children. Hawaiian boys at most ages surveyed are significantly fatter than their classmates on trunk sites, and are also fatter than National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II (NHANES-II) medians. Native Hawaiian girls have significantly greater trunk skinfold measures than classmates in only one surveyed age group. The percentage of Polynesian ancestry in this admixed sample of Hawaiian children is significantly related to fatness and body mass among children aged 9–12 years, but is not clearly related to fatness in other age groups. Socioeconomic measures are also not related to fatness in a simple manner. Intensive study of specific sex-age groups may be required to identify factors that influence the amount of fatness of native Hawaiian school children. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Obesity and upper body fat distribution in Mexican American children from families with a diabetic proband

Upper and centralized body fat distribution is associated with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Few studies have focused on anthropometric characteristics of preadults from families in which there is a diabetic (NIDDM) proband. This study explores the prevalence of upper and centralized body fatness in Mexican American children from the Diabetes Alert study (1981–1983) in Starr County, Texas. Anthropometric data on 165 males and 224 females 9–19 years include measures of adiposity such as skinfold thicknesses and the body mass index (BMI), a measure of overweight. They show rates of obesity two to three times that of White children of comparable age and sex from National Health Surveys. In comparison with U.S. White subjects, Mexican American adults are shorter, have more adiposity and arm muscle mass and have sitting heights and body breadths at the mean of these dimensions for the U.S. population. Children from Diabetes Alert families show only marginal excess of severe obesity (> 95th percentile of BMI) when compared to the general population of children surveyed in Starr County schools. Girls from these families, but not boys, have excess fatness in the BMI compared to Mexican American children from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES); suprailiac skinfold thicknesses are also greater in children of the Diabetes Alert study than in HHANES children. From 1972 through 1982, Mexican American children in South Texas showed an increase in average stature, weight, and the BMI. These data together suggest that excessive obesity exists and may be increasing in children in populations at risk for NIDDM. The prevention of NIDDM in the Mexican American population may be more effective if educational and promotional interventions include the school aged population. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Adiposity and age of menarche in Hispanic women

Women with increased adiposity have been shown to have earlier menarche. However, the association between menarche and body fat distribution has been controversial. The present study examined relationships between several anthropometric data and age at menarche in 2,494 women aged 25 to 74 years from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Early menarche was similarly related to adiposity as measured by body mass index (BMI), skinfolds representative of central adiposity (subscapular and iliac), and skinfolds representative of peripheral adiposity (triceps and calf). These relationships persisted after controlling for a variety of influences such as socioeconomic status; they were consistent in all three ethnic groups studied, but were significant only in Puerto Rican women. Ratios of central/peripheral skinfold measures were not associated with menarche. These analyses describe the relationship between early maturation and overall adiposity in three distinct Hispanic groups and reject a specific association between menarche and central body fat distribution.     

Selected anthropometric measurements of Akwesasne Mohawk youth: skinfolds, circumferences, and breadths.

Nationally, Native American youth have been shown to be at risk for overweight, and an increased prevalence of obesity among Native American children has been consistently reported. We describe skinfolds, circumferences, and body breadths to assess body size and shape of Akwesasne Mohawk youth (n = 271) between the ages of 10.0 and 16.99. Akwesasne is a sovereign nation with territory in New York state and Canada. Sex- and age-specific comparisons were made to reference values published from the Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics and from the Third National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES III). Akwesasne youth have thicker skinfolds and larger circumferences than youth in the national surveys. Additionally, these cross-sectional data indicate that body fat is more centrally distributed in Akwesasne Mohawk boys and girls. Given the numerous studies emphasizing the importance of body fat distribution as a risk factor for chronic, obesity-related diseases prevalent within Native American communities, and the high level of fatness presented in this study, more concerted efforts need to be applied to help reduce the development of overweight in children from an early age.     

Characteristics of body fat, body fat percentage and other body composition for Koreans from KNHANES IV

Accurate measurement of fat mass has become increasingly important with the increasing incidence of obesity. We assessed fat and muscle mass of Koreans with the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV (KNHANES IV). We studied 10,456 subjects (aged 20 to 85 yr; 4,476 men, 5,980 women). Fat and muscle mass were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Reference values of body compositions were obtained using the LMS method. The fat mass index (FMI, body fat mass/height(2); kg/m(2)) of Korean men did not correlate with age (P = 0.452), but those of Korean women (P < 0.001) did. The ratio of percentage of fat in the trunk and legs was positively related with age in both the genders. The appendicular lean mass/height(2) (kg/m(2)) of Korean men was negatively related to age (P < 0.001). In women, this ratio increased with age (P < 0.001). When we defined obesity according to the FMI classification, the rates of obesity were 6.1% (FMI > 9 kg/m(2)) in men and 2.7% (FMI > 13 kg/m(2)) in women. It is concluded that the muscle mass decreases and obesity increases with aging in Korean men, whereas both fat mass and obesity increase with aging in Korean women.     

Association of serum C-reactive protein and indices of body fat distribution and overweight in Mexican American children

BACKGROUND: Few data have been published on the association of indices of body fat distribution and components of the insulin resistance syndrome and serum C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase protein and putative risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity, in representative samples of total populations of children or in Hispanic Americans, who have a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes as adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) and components of the insulin resistance syndrome with CRP in Mexican American children and to assess the independence of the association. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of a large national sample, the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PARTICIPANTS: Mexican American children aged 6-11 years. MEASUREMENTS: Body circumferences, skinfold thickness, BMI, blood pressure, and serum CRP and lipid concentrations. RESULTS: Overall, 11% of children had detectable CRP (> 0.21 mg/dL). CRP was not associated with age, gender, or birth weight. WHR showed significant positive associations with serum CRP concentration independent of BMI. BMI was also significantly associated with CRP independent of WHR. CRP was significantly associated with HDL cholesterol but not triglyceride, or systolic blood pressure, concentration after controlling for BMI. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed on the associations of serum CRP concentration with WHR and other indices of body fat distribution and obesity to elucidate the mechanisms and significance of these associations.     

Anthropometry of adolescent girls in Bahrain,including body fat distribution

Primary objective : To determine anthropometric measurements of adolescent Bahraini girls, including obesity and fat composition. Methods and procedures: A cross-sectional sample of 584 Bahraini girls aged 12-19 years were selected from schools using multistage stratified sampling procedure. Fifteen anthropometric measurements were taken (weight, height, circumferences for upper arm, upper forearm, upper chest, chest, waist, hip, thigh and medial calf, triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac). Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, sum of skinfold thickness and % body fat were also computed. Main outcomes and results: The findings revealed a significant increase in all anthropometric measurements with increase in age. The mean weights for girls was higher than those reported in 1986 for the same age group, but no difference was observed in the mean heights, indicating a trend toward overweight. Using the 85th and 95th centiles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (NHANESI) BMI distribution to define respectively overweight and obesity, the prevalence of overweight was 38.5% and of obesity was 6.3%. The means for BMI, waist/hip ratio, sum of skinfold thickness and % body fat were higher than those reported in many developed and developing countries. Conclusions: Bahraini adolescent girls have a higher proportion of body fat than their counterparts in many Western countries. This may contribute to some chronic diseases in adulthood. An intervention programme, therefore, is urgently needed to reduce overweight and obesity at childhood and adolescent stages.     

Anthropometry of adolescent girls in Bahrain, including body fat distribution

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To determine anthropometric measurements of adolescent Bahraini girls, including obesity and fat composition. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A cross-sectional sample of 584 Bahraini girls aged 12-19 years, were selected from schools using multistage stratified sampling procedure. Fifteen anthropometric measurements were taken (weight, height, circumferences for upper arm, upper forearm, upper chest, chest, waist, hip, thigh and medial calf, triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac). Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, sum of skinfold thickness and % body fat were also computed. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The findings revealed a significant increase in all anthropometric measurements with increase in age. The mean weights for girls was higher than those reported in 1986 for the same age group, but no difference was observed in the mean heights, indicating a trend toward overweight. Using the 85th and 95th centiles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I (NHANESI) BMI distribution to define respectively overweight and obesity, the prevalence of overweight was 38.5% and of obesity was 6.3%. The means for BMI, waist/hip ratio, sum of skinfold thickness and % body fat were higher than those reported in many developed and developing countries. CONCLUSIONS: Bahraini adolescent girls have a higher proportion of body fat than their counterparts in many Western countries. This may contribute to some chronic diseases in adulthood. An intervention programme, therefore, is urgently needed to reduce overweight and obesity at childhood and adolescent stages.     

Magnesium intake and serum C-reactive protein levels in children.

The objective of this study was to determine whether magnesium consumption is associated with inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]) in children. The study was an analysis of child (age 6-17 years) participants in the cross-sectional, nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Children consuming less than 75% of RDA were 1.94 times more likely (p < 0.05) to have elevated serum CRP levels than children consuming above the RDA. In adjusted analyses controlling for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and BMI, children with consumption of less than 75% RDA were 58% more likely to have elevated CRP (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.07-infinity). Children with intakes below the RDA are more likely to have elevated CRP levels.     

Body fat distribution: Associations with socioeconomic status in the Hispanic health and nutrition examination survey

Three indices derived from principal components analysis of four skinfold measurements were studied in relation to socioeconomic status (SES; income and education) in men and women of the U.S. Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES). The three indices were fatness (PC1), central body fat distribution (PC2), and “centralized obesity” (PC1 + PC2). The well-known inverse relation of fatness (PC1) with SES was demonstrated in women. This relationship tended to be positive in men, but not consistently so within the three Hispanic groups (Puerto Rican, Cuban, Mexican-Americans) studied. A negative association of central body fat distribution (PC2) was also evident in both sexes and in all three groups except in Puerto Rican men, in whom the relationship was no longer significant after age adjustments. The third index combined information on both fatness level and central distribution. It was strongly related to SES in women but not in men.     

The impact of marital status and employment status on depressive affect for hispanic Americans

Considerable evidence has accumulated in recent years showing that different family structures and supports have an impact on the emotional well-being of individual members of the family. Most of the research has focused on marital status as a key variable. Using the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) we examined the combined effects of marital status and employment status on levels of depressive affect for Puerto Rican, Mexican-American, and Cuban-American adults in the United States. The results reveal an interaction between culture, marital status, and employment for all three groups. In general, married, employed males and females have the lowest overall depressive affect scores whereas unmarried, unemployed individuals have the highest scores.