Inactivity physiology: The anthropometric and blood parameters of Singaporean youths

Abstract

The anthropometric and blood parameters of 229 Singaporean adolescent youths, aged 13–15 recruited from seven secondary schools, were examined. Out of these youths, 71.5% were of healthy weight, 14.7% were underweight, 8.9% were overweight and 4.9% were obese, based on the BMI-for-age for adolescents set by the Ministry of Education. Health measurements like waist circumference, resting blood pressure and blood parameters—triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, blood glucose derived from a fasted state, and insulin resistance—were obtained in accordance to standard international protocols. Clustered metabolic risk was used to quantify participants who were at significant risk of metabolic syndrome. Twenty-seven or 11.8% were identified as at-risk of metabolic syndrome CMR was significantly associated with body mass, waist circumference, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasted blood triglyceride, and fasted blood glucose. CMR was also moderately associated with IR. Waist circumference, percentage of body fat, and blood triglycerides and resting blood pressure were significantly correlated with IR. From the study, it was found that poor metabolic health is a concern among adolescent youths in Singapore, not only in those who were overweight or obese, but also in those who are of normal weight and underweight.