The associations of body composition and anthropometric measures with carotid intima-media thickness in obese and non-obese schoolchildren: A possible predictor for cardiovascular diseases

Background: Increased carotid intima-media thickness is one of the predictors of future cardiovascular diseases. However, it is still unknown which body composition parameter or anthropometric measure is the best predictor for carotid intima-media thickness change among children and young adolescents. Objective: To investigate the associations of body composition and anthropometric measures with carotid intima-media thickness among a group of obese and normal bodyweight schoolchildren. Methods: A total of 125 schoolchildren (10-15 years) were recruited from four public schools in Amman, Jordan. Of them, 60 (29 boys and 31 girls) were normal bodyweight students and 65 (35 boys and 30 girls) were obese students. Anthropometric measures, fat mass and fat-free mass were determined. Carotid intima-media thickness of the common artery was measured using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound. Results: Compared to normal bodyweight students, obese participants exhibited greater carotid intima-media thickness (mm) (0.45 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.38 +/- 0.08, p = 0.002) and fat-free mass (kg) (48.01 +/- 11.39 vs. 32.65 +/- 7.65, p < 0.001). Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis revealed significant associations (p <= 0.05) between mean carotid intima-media thickness and body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, fat mass and fat-free mass. Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that waist circumference was the only measure that was statistically significant (p <= 0.05) with mean carotid intima-media thickness (r(2) = 0.129, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Obesity is related to greater carotid intima-media thickness and other cardiovascular risk factors among schoolchildren. Waist circumference is more sensitive in predicting increased carotid intima-media thickness than other body composition or anthropometric measures. Waist circumference measurement in the analysis of future studies assessing the cardiovascular risk among obese children is warranted.