Central Adiposity and Hemodynamic Functioning at Rest and During Stress in Adolescents

Objective: To examine the impact of central adiposity upon hemodynamic functioning at rest and during stress in adolescents.

Design: Cross-sectional, correlational study.

Subjects: 46 White and 49 Black normotensive adolescents with family histories of essential hypertension.

Measurements: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), cardiac output and total peripheral resistance responses were assessed at rest, during postural change, video game challenge and forehead cold stimulation. Specific lower and higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) tertiles were created for each gender and then integrated for analyses. This resulted in a lower WHR tertile of 11 Whites and 21 Blacks and an upper WHR tertile of 15 Whites and 17 Blacks.

Results: No differences in age, gender or ethnicity proportions were found between tertile groups (all P > 0.21). The upper WHR group showed greater body weight, waist and hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold and body surface area (all P < 0.001). Controlling for peripheral (that is, triceps skinfold) and overall (that is, BMI) adiposity, the upper WHR group exhibited greater SBP (that is, peak response minus mean pre-stressor level) to all three stressors and greater DBP reactivity to postural change and cold pressor (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Central adiposity appears to adversely influence hemodynamic functioning during adolescence. Underlying mechanisms responsible for these associations require exploration.