for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). No such WC cut-offs have been identified in adolescents, despite the consensus that risk factors for ASCVD are present in adolescents. The current study aims to identify WC cut-offs that will distinguish AfricanAmerican males ages 12 to 19 years with central adiposity who are at risk for ASCVD as defined by meeting metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis using data from the CDC Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994). A subpopulation of African-American males, ages 12 to 19 years with records containing data on WC and at least three of the following variables, were included in this study: fasting glucose, high density lipoprotein (HDL), serum triglyceride (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). This resulted in 428 participants, with a weighted sample size of 1,688,814 African-American males. Participants were scored and grouped based on ASCVD risk factors as defined by the American Heart Association, National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III as modified by Cook, et al. These include: fasting glucose 110 mg/ dL, HDL 40 mg/ dL, TG 110 mg/ dL, SBP and DBP 95% for age and gender. Individuals were categorized as low risk ( 3 risk factors) or high risk ( 3 risk factors) for ASCVD. Using WC as the independent variable, receiver-operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis was used for each year of age to identify the optimal WC measurements that identify high-risk individuals. Results: Initial linear regression models confirm that WC predicts abnormal values in all dependent variables except fasting glucose. Results of ROC analysis are pending. Conclusions: It is expected that waist circumference values that identify three or more risk factors (thus defining MetS) will be considered the optimal cut-off point at which a clinical provider should begin screening for MetS. Sources of Support: None.