Metabolomic (anthropometric and biochemical) indexes and metabolic syndrome in adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Add height-adjusted waist and relaxed arm circumference to routine health screenings for adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities to spot metabolic syndrome earlier.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team measured waist and arm size in 42 teens and young adults with intellectual disability.
They wanted to see if these simple tape-measure numbers could flag metabolic syndrome.
Height-adjusted waist and relaxed arm circumference were the key measures.
What they found
Both adjusted waist and arm size strongly predicted metabolic syndrome.
The model worked for this age group with ID, giving a quick red-flag tool.
How this fits with other research
Johnson et al. (2009) showed tibia length beats direct height when clients can’t stand straight.
Use their tip: measure shin bone, then plug that height into the 2014 waist-height ratio.
Nickerson et al. (2015) found the Body Adiposity Index over-estimates fat in Down syndrome.
Their warning keeps you from swapping BAI for the simpler waist measure Arnulfo supports.
Laugeson et al. (2014) counted 57 % of Special Olympics athletes as overweight using BMI.
Pair their BMI data with Arnulfo’s waist cut-offs to double-check risk in the same clients.
Why it matters
You now have two quick, cheap screens: waist divided by height and relaxed arm size.
No special gear, no blood draw, and clients can stay seated.
Add these numbers to annual assessments and flag anyone high for doctor follow-up.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The aim of the present study was to describe the use of combination of international standardized anthropometric parameters, along with biochemical parameters (metabolomic indexes) to identify metabolic syndrome (MetS), in persons with intellectual disabilities. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 42 adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities (aged 13-30years) who attend special schools in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México. The study included anthropometric (using the International Society for the Advancement of Kineanthropometry recommendations) and biochemical measures, and their combinations as metabolomic-indexes, that can significantly predict MetS occurrence in this vulnerable population. Waist circumference (WC) and relaxed arm circumference, both adjusted for height, have the highest correlation with MetS (R2=0.23-0.47, p<0.01). Besides body mass index (BMI) and WC we propose other indicators such as, skinfolds, hip circumference and relaxed arm circumference, all of them adjusted by height in order to better define the presence of MetS in persons with intellectual disabilities.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2014 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.07.050