OBJECTIVE:
To determine waist circumference and present waist circumference critical values to classify the risk and high risk posed by excessive abdominal fat according to age and gender.
METHODS:
A probabilistic sample of adolescent students (n=3,175) from public schools in Rio de Janeiro was analyzed. Waist circumference measurements were performed at midpoint between the last rib and the top of the iliac crest. Waist circumference percentiles were estimated using the LMS (Lambda, Mu, Sigma) method proposed by Cole (1990). The cut-points used to determine the risk and high-risk posed by excessive abdominal fat were proposed by Jolliffe & Janssen (2007).
RESULTS:
Comparing the values estimated, it was observed that the girls had higher waist circumference than the boys at all percentiles (except for P90) and ages. The estimated percentiles were lower in girls and increased with age in both sexes. At all ages, (except for 17 year old boys) and both genders, the estimated values were lower than the reference values used.
CONCLUSION:
The results obtained confirm the importance of measuring waist circumference in adolescents. This study presents waist circumference critical values for the anthropometric classification of the group studied, which has not yet been reported in the literature with data of Brazilian adolescents.
Adolescent; Waist circumference; Nutritional status; School health
