OBJECTIVE: To compare anthropometric measures of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) as predictors of blood pressure in college students. PARTICIPANTS: Students (N = 116) were recruited from November 2012 to May 2014 at an urban university and rural community colleges. METHODS: Students underwent a brief physical examination during which anthropometric measures were obtained and blood pressure was measured. Covariates were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: All anthropometric measures were predictive of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). WC was the strongest predictor of SBP (β = .582, p < .01) explaining an additional 3-4% of the variance than BMI, WHtR, or SAD. The measures were similar in predicting DBP. WC predicted SBP independent of BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider using WC to assess the risk for hypertension in college students.
OBJECTIVE: To compare anthropometric measures of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) as predictors of blood pressure in college students. PARTICIPANTS: Students (N = 116) were recruited from November 2012 to May 2014 at an urban university and rural community colleges. METHODS: Students underwent a brief physical examination during which anthropometric measures were obtained and blood pressure was measured. Covariates were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: All anthropometric measures were predictive of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). WC was the strongest predictor of SBP (β = .582, p < .01) explaining an additional 3-4% of the variance than BMI, WHtR, or SAD. The measures were similar in predicting DBP. WC predicted SBP independent of BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider using WC to assess the risk for hypertension in college students.
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Keywords:
Abdominal adiposity; blood pressure; body mass index (BMI); college students