Truncal pattern of subcutaneous fat distribution is associated with obesity and elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents

Figures & data

Table 1. The quartiles of subscapular to triceps ratio in boys and girls aged 7–17 years.

Age/years	Boys			Girls
	25th	50th	75th	25th	50th	75th
7	0.65	0.80	0.97	0.61	0.78	0.97
8	0.67	0.83	1.00	0.62	0.79	1.00
9	0.67	0.83	1.00	0.64	0.81	1.00
10	0.69	0.88	1.02	0.67	0.86	1.00
11	0.69	0.90	1.03	0.71	0.88	1.03
12	0.70	0.91	1.04	0.73	0.89	1.04
13	0.78	0.96	1.14	0.74	0.90	1.07
14	0.81	1.00	1.18	0.76	0.92	1.09
15	0.88	1.02	1.21	0.78	0.94	1.12
16	0.89	1.06	1.27	0.79	0.95	1.13
17	0.94	1.09	1.37	0.80	0.96	1.14

Figure 1. Mean values of BMI and WC in boys and girls with different patterns of fat distribution. (BMI, body mass index. WC, waist circumference. STR, subscapular to triceps skinfold thickness ratio. Q1, STR < 25th. Q4, STR ≥ 75th).

Figure 2. Mean values of SBP and DBP in boys and girls with different patterns of fat distribution. (SBP, systolic blood pressure. DBP, diastolic blood pressure. STR, subscapular to triceps skinfold thickness ratio. Q1, STR < 25th. Q4, STR ≥ 75th).

Table 2. Comparisons of Z-score for BMI, WC, WHtR, SBP and DBP in different groups categorized by STR.

Gender	Group	n	Z-BMI	Z-WC	Z-WHtR	Z-SBP	Z-DBP
Boys	Q1	4914	−0.24 ± 0.73	−0.26 ± 0.73	−0.28 ± 0.74	−0.11 ± 0.95	−0.12 ± 0.94
	Q2	4683	−0.08 ± 0.87^a	−0.07 ± 0.89^a	−0.09 ± 0.91^a	−0.04 ± 0.98^a	−0.09 ± 0.97
	Q3	4721	0.06 ± 1.05^b	0.03 ± 1.06^b	0.01 ± 1.08^b	0.04 ± 1.01^b	0.06 ± 1.01^b
	Q4	5068	0.26 ± 1.19^c	0.29 ± 1.17^c	0.27 ± 1.18^c	0.11 ± 1.03^c	0.16 ± 0.98^c
			F = 232.50, p < 0.01	F = 273.83, p < 0.01	F = 265.73, p < 0.01	F = 47.73, p < 0.01	F = 86.93, p < 0.01
Girls	Q1	4904	−0.30 ± 0.76	−0.30 ± 0.74	−0.31 ± 0.75	−0.12 ± 0.98	−0.13 ± 0.97
	Q2	4720	−0.10 ± 0.91^a	−0.08 ± 0.89^a	−0.09 ± 0.90^a	−0.06 ± 0.97^a	−0.07 ± 0.95^a
	Q3	4663	0.11 ± 1.02^b	0.06 ± 1.06^b	0.06 ± 1.06^b	0.05 ± 1.01^b	0.06 ± 1.00^b
	Q4	5014	0.29 ± 1.16^c	0.32 ± 1.15^c	0.31 ± 1.15^c	0.13 ± 1.02^c	0.15 ± 1.00^c
			F = 333.07, p < 0.01	F = 350.20, p < 0.01	F = 353.19, p < 0.01	F = 62.90, p < 0.01	F = 78.78, p < 0.01

Data presented as mean ± SD. BMI, body mass index. WC, waist circumference. WHtR, waist-to-height ratio. SBP, systolic blood pressure. DBP, diastolic blood pressure. STR, subscapular to triceps ratio. Q1, STR < 25th. Q2, 25th ≤ STR < 50th. Q3, 50th ≤ STR < 75th. Q4, STR ≥ 75th.

^a p < 0.01 compared with Q1 group.

^b p < 0.01 compared with Q2 group.

^c p < 0.01 compared with Q3 group.

Table 3. Prevalence of overweight, general obesity, abdominal obesity and relatively high BP in different groups categorized by STR.

Gender	Group	n	Overweight	General obesity	Abdominal obesity	Relatively high BP
Boys	Q1	4914	11.93 (11.02–12.84)	1.97 (1.58–2.36)	5.82 (5.17–6.47)	14.98 (13.98–15.98)
	Q2	4683	18.04 (16.94–19.14)^a	4.46 (3.87–5.05)^a	12.13 (11.19–13.07)^a	17.32 (16.24–18.40)^a
	Q3	4721	20.42 (19.27–21.57)^b	8.05 (7.27–8.83)^b	18.00 (16.90–19.10)^b	22.52 (21.33–23.71)^b
	Q4	5068	20.96 (19.84–22.08)	16.02 (15.01–17.03)^c	29.28 (28.03–30.53)^c	25.49 (24.29–26.69)^c
			x^2=172.46, p < 0.01	x^2=787.85, p < 0.01	x^2=1083.34, p < 0.01	x^2=211.58, p < 0.01
Girls	Q1	4904	5.20 (4.58–5.82)	0.55 (0.34–0.76)	1.73 (1.37–2.09)	12.79 (11.86–13.72)
	Q2	4720	9.68 (8.84–10.52)^a	1.55 (1.20–1.90)^a	5.53 (4.88–6.18)^a	13.26 (12.29–14.23)
	Q3	4663	14.88 (13.86–15.90)^b	3.26 (2.75–3.77)^b	8.88 (8.06–9.70)^b	18.12 (17.01–19.23)^b
	Q4	5014	19.21 (18.12–20.30)^c	6.08 (5.42–6.74)^c	14.84 (13.86–15.82)^c	20.76 (19.64–21.88)^c
			x^2=510.62, p < 0.01	x^2=310.82, p < 0.01	x^2=638.31, p < 0.01	x^2=161.09, p < 0.01

Data presented as percentage (95% confidence interval). STR, subscapular to triceps ratio. Q1, STR < 25th. Q2, 25th ≤ STR < 50th. Q3, 50th ≤ STR < 75th. Q4, STR ≥ 75th.

^a p < 0.017 compared with Q1 group.

^b p < 0.017 compared with Q2 group.

^c p < 0.017 compared with Q3 group.