Handgrip strength as a predictor of central adiposity in school-aged adolescents: a sex-adjusted analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v85.119444Keywords:
Adolescent , students, muscle strength, waist-to-height ratioAbstract
Introduction: Handgrip strength is a functional indicator of muscular fitness whose relationship with central adiposity during adolescence may be influenced by growth, sex, and body size.
Objective: To determine the predictive ability of handgrip strength for central adiposity in school-enrolled adolescents.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 98 adolescents aged 14–17 years. Central adiposity was assessed using waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, while right and left handgrip strength were measured using hand dynamometry. Sex-adjusted multivariable linear regression models were estimated using HC3 robust standard errors. Predictive performance was assessed using 10-fold cross-validation repeated 10 times, using root mean squared error, mean absolute error, and the cross-validated coefficient of determination.
Results: None of the handgrip strength coefficients reached statistical significance in the adjusted models. For waist circumference, right handgrip strength showed B = 0.260 (p = 0.067; adjusted R² = 0.055), while left handgrip strength showed B = 0.356 (p = 0.071; adjusted R² = 0.118). Models for waist-to-height ratio showed lower predictive ability. Cross-validation indicated limited generalizability, with R²cv = 0.014 for right handgrip strength and waist circumference, 0.036 for left handgrip strength and waist circumference, and −0.037 for both waist-to-height ratio models.
Conclusions: Absolute handgrip strength showed limited predictive ability for central adiposity and therefore should not be used as a standalone measure for estimating central adiposity in adolescents.
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