Central obesity: Predisposing factors and consequences in children age 8 through young adulthood

The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of central obesity, the IRS variables, and elevated levels of plasma PAI-1 in young adults (age 18–22), and which factors measured from age 8 predict the development of these variables. The design was a descriptive correlational study using some longitudinal data. The sample population consisted of 85 young adults who had previously participated in the longitudinal Cardiovascular Health in Children study (CHIC).; The prevelance of central obesity was 14.1%, with more females having central obesity than males. Central obesity was significantly correlated with elevations in blood pressure, insulin, plasma levels of PAI-1 and low HDL-C. For the 12 subjects with central obesity, 25% had hyperinsulinemia (X 2 = 12.26; p = 0.009) and 41.7% hypertension (X2 = 10.23; p = 0.007) both significantly different from subjects who were non-centrally obese. Most of these young subjects (n = 44, 58.2%) were already manifesting one or more of the IRS variables.; Multiple-regression determined the most efficient model for predicting waist circumference. Predictors were diastolic blood pressure, insulin and HDL-C, total model R2 was 0.572. The PAI-1 level was significantly predicted by waist circumference with a total model R 2 of 0.276; An additional crossectional predictor of central obesity was family history of type 2 diabetes (p = 0.040). Longitudinal data for BMI (controlled for gender) and smoking patterns over time (age) were placed in a mixed model to determine slope and intercept, for each subject these variables were then placed in regression equations to predict waist circumference or PAI-1. Longitudinal measures of BMI predicted the development of a larger waist circumference and later elevation of plasma levels of PAI-1. Those who had a slower increase in smoking behaviors, that is those who started smoking later had an increased waist circumference at age 18–22.; This study supported the findings with older adults that central obesity is a precursor of the IRS, highlighting the need for the early screening of the IRS variables in young adults and the need for specifically targeting females.