Waist-to-height ratio and lifestyle using as predictors of cardiovascular risk in adolescents

Abstract

Objective:
The aim of the current study is to analyze the cardiovascular risk of insufficient and sufficiently active students based on Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) in adolescents. Methods: Study conducted with 101 students in a public elementary school. Data collected were based on the application of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Adolescents (PAQ-A) as well as on participants, Body Mass Index (BMI) and WHtR. Descriptive and inferential statistical method was used for data analysis, Variance homogeneity in groups was investigated through Shapiro-Wilk test and t test for independent samples was used in all comparisons. Results were presented as mean standard deviation of the mean, the significance level adopted was p. The results were expressed as mean and standard deviation of the mean, at 5¨% significance level (< 0,05) and all statistical tests were performed the SPSS software version 20.0. Results: 63.4% of school - children were classified as insufficiently active; 21% were overweight; 9.9% were at increased heath risk; insufficiently active students presented the highest WHtR values (p = 0,021) whereas overweight was directly associated with increased WHtR (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Based on the herein analyzed data there was association between WHtR and lifestyle as predictors of cardiovascular risks in adolescents. It is essential taking actions aimed at stratifying Cardiovascular Risk factors (CVR) through EFE, so that knowledge acquired in relation to the schoolchildren ’s health can be associated with” their routine over the years.