安徽省7～22岁学生腰围臀围及腰臀比的特征分析

目的描述安徽省7～22岁城乡男女学生腰围、臀围和腰臀比年龄特征，探讨儿童青少年腰围、臀围和腰臀比的性别和城乡差异。方法以参加安徽省2005年学生体质与健康调研的8450名7—22岁学生为研究对象，计算各个年龄组城乡男女学生腰围、臀围和腰臀比的百分位数、均数和标准差，通过两样本t检验分析各年龄组腰围，臀围和腰臀比的性别和城乡差异。结果城乡7—22岁男生及女生腰围、臀围和腰臀比随年龄变化总趋势一致，腰围和腰臀比男生大于女生。青春发育期女生臀围大于男生，农村青少年臀围的性别差异更为明显。各年龄组城乡男女学生中，城市男生腰围和腰臀比均最高。多数年龄组城市男生臀围明显高于农村（P（0．01或P〈0．05），城市女生腰围和臀围比农村稍高，城市男生腰臀比略高于农村，而农村女生的腰臀比较城市稍高。但腰臀比的城乡差异有统计学意义的年龄组较少。结论基于城乡不同性别和不同年龄组学生腰围、臀围和腰臀比的差异，建议制定全国统一的腰围和腰臀比参考值。     

北京市城乡学生腰围臀围腰臀比分析

目的了解2010年北京市7～18岁中小学生腰围臀围和腰臀比的年龄、性别特征,为学生体质健康研究资料提供有益补充。方法对2010年北京市体质调研7～18岁中小学生的腰围、臀围和腰臀比进行描述性分析。结果男生腰围均值、腰臀比高于女生;城区男生臀围均值高于女生,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01),郊区男、女生臀围差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。腰围均值12岁前有随年龄增长而增加的趋势。学生臀围均值有随着年龄的增长而增加的趋势,差异有统计学意义(P值均<0.05)。城区男生腰围均值高于郊区男生(P<0.05);城区女生腰围均值与郊区女生差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);城区男女生臀围均值大于郊区学生,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);城郊区男生腰臀比均值差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);郊区女生腰臀比均值高于城区女生,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论北京城乡7～18岁学生腰围、臀围和腰臀比随年龄变化总趋势一致,但城乡各指标间年龄、性别特征存在差异。     

北京市中小学生腰围臀围腰臀比及其与相关指标关系

目的了解北京市7～18岁中小学生腰围、臀围和腰臀比水平及与年龄、性别、体型特征的关系,为儿童肥胖的早期防治提供科学依据。方法对北京市7～18岁中小学生的腰围、臀围和腰臀比进行描述性分析,研究其分布特征及与年龄、性别、体型特征的相关性。结果中小学生腰围、臀围水平随年龄的增长而增加,12岁以前增幅迅速。腰臀比有随年龄增长而下降趋势。各年龄组男生腰围和腰臀比均值大于女生,差异有统计学意义(P值均<0.01)。臀围除10～12,13～15岁性别间差异无统计学意义外(P值均>0.05),其他年龄组差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.05)。不同体型学生腰围、臀围和腰臀比差异均有统计学意义,肥胖组>超重组>正常组(P<0.01)。男生腰臀比与身高呈负相关(r=-0.353,P<0.01),女生腰臀比与体重呈负相关(r=-0.084,P<0.01)。结论北京市不同性别学生腰围、臀围和腰臀比随年龄变化总趋势一致,但不同体型学生各指标差异显著。     

成都市学龄儿童腰围及其相关指标特征分析

[目的]了解成都市学龄儿童腰围、臀围、腰臀围比和腰围身高比水平及年龄性别特征，探讨其与身高、体重的关系。[方法]随机整群拍取成都市城区两所小学6—12岁儿童为研究对象，测量其身高、体重、腰围、臀围，计算其腰臀围比、腰围身高比，并对各指标进行描述性及相关分析。[结果]儿童腰围和臀围值随年龄增加而增加，男生大干女生（P〈0．05）；腰臀围比随年龄增加而下降，男生大于女生（P〈0．05）；腰围身高比有随年龄增加降低的趋势，男生大于女生（P〈0．05）；腰围和臀围分别与身高、体重均呈明显正相关，腰臀围比与身高呈负相关（男生r=-0．116，P（0．05，女生r=-0．442，P（0．05），腰围身高比与体重呈正相关（男生r=0．532，P〈0．05，女生r=0．198，P〈0．05）。[结论]该市学龄儿童腰围、臀围和腰臀围比均存在年龄和性别差异．腰围和臀围均与其身高、体重有关。     

广州市6～18岁儿童青少年腰围和腰围身高比分布特征

目的探讨广州市6～18岁儿童青少年腰围（WC）和腰围身高比（wH氓）分布特征。方法采用年级分层整班抽样方法对参加2010年全国学生体质健康调研的广州市12所监测学校（广州市城乡各3所中学和3所小学）6～18岁学生进行腰围和身高检测,计算各个年龄组城乡男女生腰围和腰围身高比百分位数、腰围身高比的均值,比较腰围和腰围身高比年龄、城乡和性别差异。结果2010年调查5141名学生,城市男生1287名、城市女生1256名、农村男生1300名、农村女生1298名。广州市6-18岁学生随年龄增长腰围不断增加,女生在青春发育期腰围值接近男生,其他年龄组均是男生超过女生。同性别各年龄组的腰围城市大于乡村。城乡男女生6-18岁WHtR在0．40至0．45范围内波动,13岁前城乡男生WHtR高于女生,13岁后女生wHtR大于男生或与男生重叠。同性别各年龄组的WHtR均是城市大于乡村。结论广州市6～18岁城乡学生腰围和腰围身高比在年龄、性别、城乡表现出差异;该数据为制定全国儿童青少年腰围：腰围身高比的体质量超标、肥胖筛查标准提供广州地区基础资料。     

南京市3~6岁儿童腰围、臀围变化及体格相关指标关系分析

目的 了解南京市3~6岁儿童腰围、臀围、腰臀比的现状及其与体格相关指标的关系,有针对性地制定措施,更好地促进儿童健康成长。方法 2015年采用分层随机整群抽样的方法调查南京市4 300名3~6岁儿童的腰围、臀围指标,计算腰臀比并对体格相关指标进行分析。结果 男、女童腰围、臀围均随着年龄的增加而增加,腰臀比随着年龄的增加而降低。平均腰围:男童49.4~54.5 cm,女童47.5~53.2 cm;平均臀围:男童53.3~62.5 cm,女童53.0~60.9 cm;平均腰臀比:男童0.87~0.96 cm,女童0.87~0.90 cm。儿童腰围、臀围及腰臀比在性别年龄组间差异有统计学。腰围和臀围分别与体重、身高及体重指数(BMI)呈正相关。腰臀比随着年龄的增加而降低,与身高、臀围呈负相关。结论 南京市3~6岁儿童腰围、臀围存在年龄和性别差异,腰围、臀围、腰臀比与其体重、身高及BMI有关。     

新疆伊犁地区哈萨克族7~14岁儿童肥胖指标与血压相关性分析

目的 调查新疆伊犁地区哈萨克族学龄儿童肥胖指标与血压的相关性。方法 2009年5-6月以伊犁地区所有小学哈萨克族7~14岁儿童为调查对象,共调查2438名,测量腰围、臀围、皮脂厚度、收缩压和舒张压,计算体重指数、腰臀比、腰围身高比。以年龄、性别分组,血压按中国儿童血压标准分为高血压组和正常组。采用SPSS 17.0软件进行相关性统计分析。结果 伊犁地区哈萨克族学龄儿童高血压总患病率为5.7%,其中男童为4.4%,女童为7。0%。腰围、臀围、腰身比、腰臀比、收缩压和舒张压均存在性别、年龄别差异（P=0.000）。平均收缩压与腰围、臀围、皮脂厚度、体重指数、腰臀比均有相关性（P=0.000）,其中臀围相关强度最强（男r=0.618,女r=0.655）。平均舒张压与腰围、臀围、皮脂厚度、体重指数、腰臀比均存在相关性（P=0.000）,其中臀围相关强度最强（男r=0.489,女r=0.548）。高血压组腰围、臀围、皮脂厚度、体重指数及腰臀比与血压正常组比较差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 新疆伊犁地区哈萨克族学龄儿童高血压患病率处于国内外同年龄段儿童的中低等水平。肥胖指标中腰围、臀围、体重指数和腰臀比均与血压存在不同程度相关性,其中以臀围呈正相关尤为显著。     

中国不同地区青少年腰围正常参考值比较

目的 了解长沙市与北京市和安徽省(包括合肥、宿州、黄山三个城市)青少年腰围正常参考值的差异.方法 采用随机整群抽样的方法抽取长沙市四所学校,以参加2005年学生体质与健康调研的2 490名(男1 293名,女1 197名)12～17岁中学生为研究对象,测量腰围,并计算各年龄组男女学生的腰围均数和标准差.并将通过收集国家知识基础设施(CNKI)中国期刊网发表的北京市和安徽省同种族人群的腰围参考值资料与长沙市人群比较,进行分类整理和分析.结果 三个地区12～17岁男女生腰围参考值拟合曲线,都显示出随年龄逐渐增长的趋势;三个地区男生的腰围参考值拟合曲线增长趋势基本一致,以长沙市男生腰围值最高,安徽省最低;三个地区女生的腰围参考值拟合曲线,在13岁之前,以长沙女生的腰围值最高,13岁之后以北京最高;安徽男女生的腰围参考曲线显著低于长沙和北京.结论 中国不同地区同种族12～17岁人群腰围参考值曲线存在地域差异.     

北京市儿童青少年腰臀比正常值研究

目的 采用LMS法分析2010年北京市学生体质健康调研结果,建立北京市儿童腰围筛查分类标准.方法 按照《2010年全国学生体质健康调研工作手册》规定的方法进行身体测量,以LMS法计算性别年龄别腰臀比各百分位数值,绘制LMS曲线,建立北京市儿童青少年腰臀比正常值.结果 各年龄组的腰臀比均为男生大于女生.男、女生腰臀比均在13岁前随年龄增大而减小,之后男生稳定在0.80 ～0.82之间,女生稳定在0.76～0.78之间.1g岁男、女生腰臀比分别为0.82和0.78.不同组别间腰臀比,肥胖组＞超重组＞正常组.北京市18岁男生超重/肥胖的腰臀比筛查标准是0.84和0.91,女生分别是0.80和0.85.结论 LMS法建立的北京市儿童青少年腰臀比筛查标准可以在北京地区推广使用.     

嘴馋的时候走两步

据英国剑桥大学的一项研究结果显示,抽烟女性的腰更易变粗。研究人员调查了21,828名年龄在45～79岁之间的居民,详细记录其吸烟情况和身体指标。研究人员发现,和不吸烟者或已经戒烟者相比,吸烟者的腰围较大且臀围较小,即腰臀比（腰围除以臀围）较高;吸烟时间越长、吸烟量越大的人,其腰臀比越高。如果戒烟,腰臀比会随戒烟时间的延长而逐渐降低。这种情况在女性被调查者中尤为明显。     

Evaluation of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and the conicity index as screening tools for high trunk fat mass, as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, in children aged 3-19 y

BACKGROUND: A central fat pattern has adverse health implications in both children and adults. Because adiposity tracks from childhood into adulthood, the ability of simple anthropometric techniques to correctly measure truncal adiposity in childhood needs to be assessed. OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the validity of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and the conicity index as indicators of trunk fat mass in children and adolescents. DESIGN: Trunk fat mass (kg) was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 278 girls and 302 boys aged 3-19 y. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and areas under the curves (AUCs) for the ROCs were calculated to compare the relative abilities of the anthropometric measures to correctly identify children with high trunk fat mass (z score for our study population of > or =1). RESULTS: The 80th percentile for waist circumference correctly identified 89% of girls and 87% of boys with high trunk fat mass (sensitivity) and 94% of girls and 92% of boys with low trunk fat mass (specificity). Waist circumference performed significantly better as an index of trunk fat mass than did WHR or the conicity index, as shown by the AUCs in girls and boys, respectively: waist circumference AUCs = 0.97 and 0.97, conicity index AUCs = 0.80 and 0.81, and WHR AUCs = 0.73 and 0.71. Our cutoffs for high trunk fat mass and high waist circumference are provided for both sexes for each year of age. CONCLUSION: Waist circumference provides a simple yet effective measure of truncal adiposity in children and adolescents.     

儿童肥胖与脂质代谢紊乱

目的探讨儿童肥胖与脂质代谢紊乱的关系。方法回顾性分析我院肥胖病门诊7～18岁患儿283例,其中男性179例、女性104例。测量体重、身高、腰围及臀围,酶比色法测定空腹血清总甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平。结果283例患儿超重15例、肥胖268例。147例血脂水平异常,其中1项异常100例、2项异常34例、3项异常和4项全部异常分别为11和2例。TG升高131例、TC升高42例、HDL-C降低和LDL-C升高分别为20和17例。校正年龄和性别后,体质指数(BMI)仅与血清TG水平呈显著正相关(r=0.13,P<0.05)。腰围不仅与血清TG水平呈显著正相关(r=0.21,P<0.01),也与血清HDL-C呈显著负相关(r=-0.14,P<0.05)。腰围与血脂紊乱的程度呈正相关(r=0.17,P<0.01)。以同龄同性别腰围95th百分位值为标准,将283例患儿分为腰围正常组和腰围异常组,则腰围异常组患儿血清TG显著增高(P<0.01),而HDL-C水平显著降低(P<0.05)。结论肥胖儿童脂质代谢紊乱以血清TG和TC升高为主。与BMI相比,腰围与脂质代谢紊乱的关系更密切。同龄同性别腰围95th百分位值可作为诊断儿童腰围正常与否的临界点。     

学龄前双生子儿童围度指标的遗传学研究

【目的】 分析遗传和环境因素对学龄前双生子儿童围度发育的影响及其性别和年龄因素的作用。 【方法】 对3~6岁101对双生子(同卵双生子42对、同性别异卵双生子30对,异性别异卵双生子29对)的头围、胸围、腰围、臀围、上臂围及小腿围进行测量;对测量结果进行结构方程模型拟合,并估算各指标遗传度。 【结果】 最佳模型除头围为AES外,其他各指标均为ACES模型,遗传、环境、年龄因素对各指标均有不同程度影响。校正年龄后,各指标遗传度为:头围(男0.83,女0.75)、胸围(男0.56,女0.43)、腰围(男0.77,女0.72)、臀围(男0.49,女0.63)、上臂围(男0.58,女0.36)、小腿围(男0.82,女0.76)。 【结论】 学龄前儿童头围、腰围、小腿围主要受遗传因素影响,胸围、臀围、上臂围受环境因素影响相对较大。     

中国7～18岁学龄儿童青少年腰围界值点研究

目的 根据儿童不同腰围水平罹患心血管疾病的危险,研究中同学龄儿童青少年腰围的适宜界值点.方法 利用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)法分析从全国汇总的65 898名7～18岁学龄儿童青少年腰围及其相关代谢指征数据,探索预测心血管疾病的腰围最佳界值点.结果 儿童青少年腰围值小于第75百分位数(P75)时,收缩压、舒张压、血糖、总胆固醇、甘油三酯和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平以及血压升高率、血糖升高率、血脂异常率随腰围变化趋势不明显,当腰围大于P75后,上述指标逐渐增加,从P90开始,增加趋势明显,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇的变化趋势相反.ROC曲线结果表明,预测血压增加的腰围最佳界值点为P75;预测至少两项心血管疾病危险因素聚集的最佳界值点为P90.与腰围低于P75,的儿童青少年相比,在腰围处于P75～P90者中至少聚集两项心血管疾病危险因素的比例增加了1倍,腰围大于P90者中该比例则增加了5倍.按体重指数分类标准分层后,儿童青少年血压升高率仍然随腰围增加而显著增加.结论 建议将中国儿童青少年腰围的年龄别性别P7,和P90作为儿童青少年心血管病危险开始增加和明显增加的界值点.     

Waist circumference values in Spanish children--gender related differences.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain reference values of the waist circumference in Spanish children, and to investigate their dependence on age and gender. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: General school-age population. SUBJECTS: A representative sample of the schools in Zaragoza, Spain, was drawn from seven schools. The population selected comprised 1728 children with ages ranging from 6.0-14.9y. Of the original sample, 368 children (21.29%) were excluded because of chronic diseases or refusal. Finally, 1360 children and adolescents: 701 boys and 659 girls, were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Waist and hip circumferences were measured with an unelastic tape. RESULTS: Waist circumference tended to be higher in males than in females and this difference was significant after 11.5y. In general, hip circumference was higher in females than in males (statistically significant differences at 7.5, 10.5, 12.5 and 13.5 y). In general, percentile values of waist circumference were higher in males than in females, especially after 12.5 y. Difference between males and females on percentile 95 at 14.5 y was 7.6 cm. Hip was greater than waist in both sexes, and the two curves run nearly parallel in males. In females, while hip enlarges continuously, waist shows the reverse tendency between 11.5 and 14.5 y. CONCLUSIONS: Waist circumference showed higher values in boys than in girls, especially after 11.5 y, and waist values increase with age both in males and females. These findings justify the use of age and gender specific reference standards.     

Plasma adiponectin levels and metabolic factors in nondiabetic adolescents

OBJECTIVES: The relationship of plasma adiponectin levels with various anthropometric and metabolic factors has been surveyed extensively in adults. However, how plasma adiponectin levels are related to various anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents is not as vigorously studied. In this study, we investigated this among healthy nondiabetic adolescents. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Two hundred thirty nondiabetic subjects (125 boys and 105 girls, approximately 10 to 19 years old) were included. The plasma adiponectin, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipids and anthropometric indices including body height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were examined. Body fat mass (FM) and percentage were obtained from DXA scan. The homeostasis model assessment was applied to estimate the degree of insulin resistance. RESULTS: The plasma adiponectin levels were significantly higher in girls (30.79 +/- 14.48 micro g/mL) than boys (22.87 +/- 11.41 micro g/mL). The plasma adiponectin levels were negatively related to BMI, FM, FM percentage, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin resistance, plasma insulin, triglycerides, and uric acid levels, but positively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with the adjustment for age and gender. Using different multivariate linear regression models, only age and HDL-C were consistently related to the plasma adiponectin levels after adjustment for the other variables. DISCUSSION: The relationship between plasma adiponectin and various anthropometric indices and metabolic factors, especially HDL-C, previously reported in adults was present in the healthy nondiabetic adolescents. Whether variation of plasma adiponectin levels in healthy nondiabetic adolescents may influence their future coronary artery disease risk warrants further investigation.     

北京与全国7～18岁儿童青少年腰围适宜界值对心血管危险因素筛查效度的对比分析

目的 比较北京与全国7～18岁儿童青少年腰围(WC)适宜界值对心血管危险因素的筛查效度和预测价值.方法 采用LMS曲线拟合法拟合北京市21 787名3～18岁儿童青少年WC百分位曲线,以性别、年龄别第75百分位数(P75)及第90百分位数(P90)作为北京市7～18岁儿童青少年WC适宜界值.在4927名7～18岁儿童青少年组成的验证人群中,比较北京和全国7～18岁儿童青少年WC适宜界值对高血压、脂代谢紊乱、糖耐量受损及非酒精性脂肪肝(NAFLD)等心血管危险因素诊断的特异度和灵敏度,通过回归分析比较该2个界值对心血管危险因素的预测价值.结果 北京市3～18岁儿童青少年WC适宜界值分别为:男童:P75为51.8～78.2 cm,P90为54.0～86.0 cm;女童:P75为50.8～72.1 cm,P90为53.3～77.3 cm.北京与全国界值筛查心血管危险因素的灵敏度分别为:高血压:男童分别为0.74和0.82,女童分别为0.68和0.73;低高密度脂蛋白胆固醇:男童分别为0.69和0.80,女童分别为0.64和0.71;NAFLD:男童分别为0.98和1.00,女童均为0.93.北京与全国界值筛查心血管危险因素的特异度分别为:高血压:男童分别为0.62和0.53,女童分别为0.68和0.63;低高密度脂蛋白胆固醇:男童分别为0.59和0.50,女童分别为0.66和0.61;NAFLD:男童分别为0.60和0.50,女童分别为0.56和0.51.北京和全国7～18岁儿童青少年WC的P90适宜界值预测心血管危险因素的OR(95%CI)值分别为:高血压分别为6.3(5.2～7.7)和6.0(4.9～7.4);空腹血糖受损均为1.3(1.1～1.5);脂代谢紊乱均为2.9(2.5～3.4);NAFLD分别为49.1(12.0～201.6)和69.8(9.7～504.2).结论 北京市7～18岁儿童青少年WC适宜界值可提高对心血管危险因素筛查的特异度;除对NAFLD预测价值低于全国界值外,北京界值对其他心血管危险因素的预测价值与全国界值没有明显差别.

Abstract：

Objective To compare the optimal references of waist circumference (WC) between Beijing and China in detecting cardiovascular risk factors in school-age children.Methods Percentile curves for WC were drawn by sex using LMS method based on 21 787 children and adolescents aged 7-18 from Beijing Child and Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome Study. The 75th and the 90th percentiles by age and by gender of WC percentile curves were chosen as the optimal WC reference for 3-18 years old children and adolescents in Beijing. The sensitivities(Se) and specificities(Sp) were compared between Beijing and China WC references based on the evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, dyslipidmia, impaired fasting glucose and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the test population being composed of 4927 school children aged 7-18 years. The predictive values for those cardiovascular risk factors were compared between the two optimal thresholds through comparison of the odds ratio(OR) in regression analysis.Results The optimal reference for Beijing children and adolescents aged 3-18 years ranged from 51.8 to 78.2 cm for the 75th percentile in boys and 50.8 to 72.1 cm in girls, and the 90th percentile increased from 54.0 to 86.0 cm in boys and 53.3 to 77.3 cm in girls. The Ses of Beijing and China WC references in detecting hypertension were 0.74 and 0.82 in boys and 0.68 and 0.73 in girls; the Ses were 0.69 and 0.80 in detecting low-high density lipoprotein in boys and 0.64 and 0.71 in girls; and they were 0.98 and 1.00 in boys and both were 0.93 in girls for NAFLD. The Sps of Beijing and China WC references in screening hypertension were 0.62 and 0.53 in boys and 0.68 and 0.63 in girls, respectively. In predicting low-high density lipoprotein, the Sps were 0.59 and 0.50 in boys and 0.66 and 0.61 in girls, the Sps were 0.60 and 0.50 in boys and 0.56 and 0.51 in girls for predicting NAFLD. After adjustment for age and gender,ORs and their 95% credibility intervals(CI) of the 90th WC percentiles of Beijing and China school children were 6.3 (5.2-7.7) and 6.0 (4.9-7.4) in predicting hypertension. Both predictive ORs and their 95%CIs were 1.3 (1.1-1.5) in predicting impaired fasting glucose and the both were 2.9 (2.5-3.4) for dyslipdmia. In predicting NAFLD the ORs and their 95%CIs were 49.1(12.0-201.6) and 69.8 (9.7-504.2) for Beijing and China WC optimal references, separately.Conclusion Compared with Chinese WC reference, WC reference of Beijing had high Sps in screening cardiovascular risk factors in 7-18 years old children. The predictive values were not significant different between Beijing and China WC references for almost all cardiovascular risk factors except NAFLD. The WC reference in Beijing was more practical and handy for reference in Beijing and other north developed metropolises.     

Relationship between body composition and blood pressure in Bahraini adolescents

The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between body composition and blood pressure (BP) in Bahraini adolescents. A sample of 504 Bahraini schoolchildren aged 12-17 years (249 boys and 255 girls) was selected using a multi-stage stratified sampling procedure. BP measurements were performed on the students. Anthropometric data including weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, and triceps, subscapular and medial calf skinfold thicknesses were also collected. BMI, percentage body fat, waist:hip (WHR), and subscapular:triceps skinfold ratio were calculated. Mean systolic BP and mean diastolic BP were higher in males than in females. Weight and height in boys and weight only in girls were significantly associated with systolic BP independent of age or percentage fat. Nearly 14 % of the adolescents were classified as having high BP. BMI and percentage body fat were significantly and positively associated with the risk of having high BP in the boys and girls. Adolescents with high WHR or WC, as indicators for central obesity, tended to have higher BP values. The results from the present study indicate that obesity influences the BP of Bahraini adolescents and that simple anthropometric measurements such as WHR and WC are useful in identifying children at risk of developing high BP. These findings together with the known tracking of BP from adolescence into adulthood underline the importance of establishing intervention programmes in order to prevent the development of childhood and adolescent obesity.