Table 1

Distribution of variables for Jamaican adolescents, 2007 (N = 276)

VariablesN (%)Mean (SD)
GenderNA
 M112 (40.6)
 F164 (59.4)
EthnicityNA
 Blacks215 (77.9)
 Non-Blacks61 (22.1)
Place of residenceNA
 Urban140 (50.7)
 Rural136 (49.3)
Age (years)15.6 (1.2)
 14–16214 (77.5)15.1 (0.8)
 17–1962 (22.5)17.3 (0.5)
Waist circumference (cm)79.06 (14.2)
 No risk (<94 M, <80 F)197 (71.4)
 Risk (≥94 M, ≥80 F)79 (28.6)
Waist-to-hip ratio0.80 (0.06)
 No risk (<0.85 F, <1.0 M)255 (92.4)
 Risk (≥0.85 F, ≥1.0 M)21 (7.6)
Body mass index23.76 (7.72)
 Underweight (<18.5)68 (24.6)16.72 (1.30)
 Normal weight (18.5–25)110 (39.9)20.90 (1.76)
 Overweight (25– <30)40 (14.5)27.32 (1.38)
 Obese (≥30)58 (21.0)32.33 (1.68)
Fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)91.21 (10.5)
 Normal (≤100)234 (84.8)
 IFG (100–126)39 (14.1)
 Diabetes (≥126)3 (1.1)
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)143.0 (21.3)
 Normal (≤170)250 (90.6)
 Borderline (170–200)23 (8.3)
 Above normal (≥200)3 (1.1)
HbA1c (%)6.09 (1.3)
 Normal (≤6.5) 202 (73.2)
 Above normal (>6.5)74 (26.8)
Blood pressure (mm Hg)
 Systolic116.8 (16.23)
 Diastolic69.9 (10.9)
 Normal*205 (74.3)
 Prehypertensive†24 (8.7)
 Hypertensive‡47 (17.0)
Family histories of T2DNA
 Yes145 (52.5)
 No131 (47.5)
Family histories of CVDsNA
 Yes82 (29.7)
 No194 (70.3)
Family history overweightNA
 Yes181 (65.6)
 No95 (34.4)
Acanthosis nigricansNA
 Present122 (44.2)
 Absent154 (55.8)
Physical activityNA
 Low (PA ≤2×/week)107 (38.8)
 High (PA >2×/week)169 (61.2)
  • *<90th centile.

  • †90–95th centile.

  • ‡>95th centile.

  • HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; CVDs, cardiovascular diseases; F, female; IFG, impaired fasting glucose; M, male; NA, not applicable; PA, physical activity; T2D, type 2 diabetes.