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Body proportionality and adiposity are not related in 6‐ to 8‐year‐old Yucatec Maya children
Author(s) -
VazquezGomez Alonso,
ÁvilaEscalante María Luisa,
Azcorra Hugo,
VarelaSilva Maria Inês,
Dickinson Federico
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.23254
Subject(s) - maya , proportionality (law) , medicine , geography , archaeology , political science , law
Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the association between relative leg length (RLL) (leg length × 100/height) and adiposity in a sample of 6‐ to 8‐year‐old children of Maya ancestry from Motul and Merida, Mexico. Methods This cross‐sectional study included 260 children (128 girls) measured between 2011 and 2015. The RLL was used as a measure of body proportionality. Linear regression models were performed to examine the association between RLL (predictor) and three adiposity indicators (outcome variables): fat mass index (kg/m 2 ), waist circumference (z‐score), and sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds (z‐score). Results The prevalence of stunting was 12%, and a higher prevalence (19%) of short RLL (leg stunting) was found. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 16% and 20%, respectively, but the highest prevalence was found for abdominal obesity (40%). None of the adiposity indicators were related to RLL ( P > .05), even after adjusting for the influence of children's sex and age. Conclusions Our results suggest that the coexistence of short RLL and high body adiposity is not observed in all populations. Our findings do not discount the possibility that a negative association between RLL and adiposity is expressed at older ages.