Abstract
Background
Metabolic syndrome is a multifactorial disorder mainly related to abdominal fat deposition and changes in glucose homeostasis and / or insulin resistance. Studies show associations between childhood overweight and high morbidity and mortality rates in adulthood, so the presence of metabolic changes in childhood and / or adolescence may contribute to an unfavorable health profile to the future health of individuals.
Objective
To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and to check its association with nutritional status in adolescents.
Method
Cross-sectional study with adolescents from public and private schools with ages ranging from 14 to 19 years was carried out. It was performed an anthropometric assessment, including the determination of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference, besides that the determination of biochemical parameters and blood pressure was also collected. In order to diagnose Metabolic Syndrome, it was used the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) criteria. The anthropometric and biochemical characteristics were expressed as average and standard deviations, and compared between the genders by the Student’s t-test, while for the analysis of risk was used binary logistic regression.
Results
Of total 327 interviewed adolescents, 59.9% of them were female, 65.7% were studying in public schools. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 7%, while the presence of at least one diagnostic criterion of this syndrome was present in 90.8% of the sample. Moreover, obesity was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome, indicating a greater risk.
Conclusion
Adolescents have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome, showing early components of this pathology, which is still associated with obesity, highlighting a greater risk for those who present this condition. Therefore, nutritional interventions directed at the young population should be promoted, with the purpose of improving eating habits and lifestyle.
Keywords:
prevalence; metabolic syndrome; obesity; adolescents
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