Anthropometric markers of central adiposity and blood pressure among university students

Abstract

Abstract Background: Admission to university is associated with changes in anthropometric markers of total and central adiposity. Objective: To evaluate the association between anthropometric markers of central adiposity and blood pressure (BP) among university students. Method: Cross-sectional study carried out with 1,113 male and female college students aged between 16 to 25 years old, who entered a public university in the Midwest region of Brazil. Demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire. The Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to remove the effect of overall adiposity, and central adiposity was assessed by measuring waist circumference (WC) and neck circumference (NC). General linear models were used to analyze the association of central adiposity anthropometric markers with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Results: Both central adiposity markers (WC and NC) were associated with SBP and DBP in the non-adjusted analysis (p<0.01). In the final model, only the NC remained directly associated with SBP Conclusion: Among young university students, only NC was associated with SBP after adjustment for potential confounders, including BMI.