The Study of Conicity Index and Waist Hip Ratio in Nigerian Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Since the introduction of the conicity index by Valdez et al, (1992) the conicity index has been applied to assess the central distribution of fat as a risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study was conducted to apply this index to investigate the fat distribution pattern of Nigerian children (n = 240 boys and n = 211 girls) 3 to 15 years of age, grouped as 3-5 years, 6-10 years and 11-15 years. Anthropometric variables increase from 3-5 years age group to 11-15 years age group, with a significant difference (P<0.001) in both boys and girls, only the triceps skin fold fails to show significant difference. The means of conicity index and the waist-hip ratio decrease with the increase in age of the subjects with the 3-5 years age group having higher means and 11-15 years having lower means with statistical significance (P<0.001). Correlation and regression analyses were used to establish relationship between conicity index, waist hip ratio and other anthropometric variables. The study shows that central fat distribution decreases as an individual ages and becomes peripherally distributed, explaining the decrease in conicity index and waist-hip ratio, which is more pronounced in the girls.