Ethnic group differences in cardiometabolic disease risk factors independent of body mass index among American youth.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this analysis was to identify any ethnic group differences in the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease risk factors independent of BMI in United States youth.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Data on 3,510 boys and girls aged 8-11 years from the 1999-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed to determine the prevalence of 1 or ≥3 cardiometabolic disease risk factors: abnormal waist circumference and systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), increased concentrations of fasting triglyceride, and decreased concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol before and after adjusting for BMI.

RESULTS: Abnormal waist circumference and HDL-cholesterol significantly differed by ethnic group before and after adjusting for BMI (P < 0.01). Non-Hispanic blacks were significantly less likely to have abnormal HDL-cholesterol concentrations than were Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites, but non-Hispanic whites were significantly more likely to have elevated triglycerides and three or more abnormal cardiometabolic risk factors than non-Hispanic blacks.

CONCLUSION: These findings point to ethnic group disparities not related to BMI alone, even in children as young as 8-11 years. Programs to prevent and treat eventual cardiometabolic disease in children could be tailored for specific ethnic backgrounds as a result.