J Prev Med Public Health.  2008 Mar;41(2):107-114. 10.3961/jpmph.2008.41.2.107.

The Association between Obesity Indices in Adolescence and Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Young Adults: Kangwha Study

• Lee YJ
• Nam CM
• Kim HC
• Hur NW
• Suh I

• KMID: 792545
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2008.41.2.107

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between obesity indices (body mass index, weight, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference) in adolescents and the carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) in early adulthood. We also wanted to identify the best predictor for C-IMT among these obesity indices. METHODS: This study used community-based prospective cohort study, known as the Kangwha Study, and the data we used were from subjects who were 16-years old in 1996 (defined as "adolescencec") and 25 years-old in 2005 (defined as "early adulthoodc"). The 256 subjects (113 men and 143 women) who were used for analysis participated in both follow-ups, and they underwent B-mode ultrasonography of the carotid arteries at the early adulthood follow-up. Obesity indices were defined as the body mass index, weight, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference. The C-IMT was defined as the mean of the maximal IMT of each common carotid artery. The C-IMT and obesity indices associations were evaluated via multivariable regression, logistic regression and the receiver-operator characteristic curve analyses. RESULTS: In men, all the obesity indices in adolescence were showed to have statistically significant positive association with C-IMT in early adulthood. However, no such relationship was showed in women. On multiple regression and logistic regression analysis, the waist-hip ratio showed the biggest relationship with the C-IMT among the 4 obesity indices. However, there were no statistical significant differences and no best predictor was found. For the women, the obesity incidences and C-IMT showed no relationships. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that obesity in adolescence was related to an increase C-IMT in healthy young Korean men.

Keyword

Obesity; Carotid artery thrombosis; Adult; Adolescence

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Blood Glucose/analysis
Blood Pressure
Carotid Arteries/*pathology
Female
Humans
Korea/epidemiology
Lipids/blood
Male
Obesity/*pathology/physiopathology
Prospective Studies
Sex Factors
Tunica Intima/*pathology
Waist-Hip Ratio