Original Research

Visceral adiposity index, fitness and clustered cardiovascular disease risk in adolescents

Danladi I. Musa, Daniel T. Goon, Rafiu O. Okuneye, Mary O. Onoja-Alexander, Joseph I. Momoh, Tessy O. Angba
African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine | Vol 16, No 1 | a4474 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v16i1.4474 | © 2024 Danladi I. Musa, Daniel T. Goon, Rafiu O. Okuneye, Mary O. Onoja-Alexander, Joseph I. Momoh, Tessy O. Angba | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 24 January 2024 | Published: 29 June 2024

About the author(s)

Danladi I. Musa, Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Faculty of Education, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria
Daniel T. Goon, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, South Africa
Rafiu O. Okuneye, Department of Human Kinetics, Sports and Health Education, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria
Mary O. Onoja-Alexander, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria
Joseph I. Momoh, Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria
Tessy O. Angba, Department of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Education, National Open University, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors have been observed in children and adolescents, but its association with visceral adiposity index (VAI) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in adolescents has rarely been studied.

Aim: This study determines the independent associations of VAI and CRF with the clustering of cardiovascular disease risk (CVDr) among Nigerian adolescents.

Setting: Adolescents from specific secondary schools in Kogi East, North Central Nigeria participated in the study.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 403 adolescents (202 boys and 201 girls) aged 11 years – 19 years were evaluated for VAI, CRF and CVDr. Using identified risk factors, a clustered CVDr score was generated. The association between VAI, CRF and clustered CVDr was evaluated using regression models that controlled for age, gender and maturity status.

Results: Fitness was negatively associated with CVDr (β = -0.268, p < 0.001), while VAI was positively correlated with CVDr (β = 0.379, p < 0.001). After CRF or VAI adjustment, the independent association with the dependent variable remained significant. The odds of an adolescent with elevated VAI being at risk of CVD was 4.7 times higher than his peers. Unfit adolescents were 2.1 times more likely to develop CVDr.

Conclusion: Both VAI and CRF were independently associated with the clustering of CVDr in Nigerian adolescents. The findings suggest that health promotion efforts focusing on healthy diet and aerobic-type physical activity programmes should be encouraged among the youth to reduce the risk of CVD.

Contribution: This study shows that improving visceral adipose tissue and fitness may lower CVD risk factors in adolescents, which is significant for public health.


Keywords

adolescents; abdominal adiposity; fitness; cardiovascular health; primary prevention

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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