Visceral adipose tissue reference data computed for GE HealthCare DXA from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data set.

OBJECTIVE: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) characterizes body composition representative of the US population using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. These population-level trends of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (SAT and VAT) are useful for identifying measures associated with increased disease risk. Recently, VAT and SAT data collected by Hologic DXA in NHANES were published online; however, there are known differences in the absolute calibration of DXA systems by make. The purpose of this study was to create reference tables suitable for calculating z scores and percentile values for GE HealthCare (GEHC) DXA systems. METHODS: DXA scans were acquired on participants aged 8 to 59 years using Hologic systems. DXA measures were converted to GEHC and described using the least median squares curve fitting method in pediatrics (aged <20 years) and adults (aged 20-59 years). RESULTS: A total of 11,972 adults and 7298 pediatrics were included for this analysis. Adult and pediatric curves were generated by sex and by ethnicity (non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, Asian, Other) and were derived as a function of age. CONCLUSIONS: These results show the ability to generate VAT and SAT reference data for GEHC systems using Hologic DXA data representative of the US youth and adult population.

Metabolic syndrome screening using visceral adipose tissue (VAT) from opportunistic MRI locations in a multi-ethnic population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area measured through MRI can be used opportunistically to assess the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors and compare its performance to simpler adiposity measures. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out on a subset of 1683 participants (856 women) from the Adiposity Phenotype Study (mean age=69.2y; range 59.9-77.4). The association of total VAT area (sum of four cross sections, L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5) and each location, as well as BMI and body fat % (per SD) with the metabolic syndrome (MetSx) or its components was evaluated through logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Total VAT can be accurately predicted using all sites evaluated (R2 range=0.82-0.96). In men, VAT did not show a superior association to MetSx compared to BMI in men. However, in women, VAT was consistently superior to BMI and body fat % in its association to MetSx, independent of ethnicity [odds ratio for BMI, body fat %and total VAT area=2.25 (95% CI: 1.93-2.62); 1.66 (95% CI: 1.36-2.03); 6.20 (95% CI: 4.69-8.21) respectively in all women]. Ethnic-specific odds ratios to MetSx in women ranged from 5.38 to 8.63 for total VAT area and 2.12-4.08 for BMI. CONCLUSION: Total VAT area can be accurately predicted from individual VAT regions in men and women and offers superior association to BMI for MetSx in women but not in men for five ethnicities. Therefore, opportunistic screening for elevated VAT area in women may be warranted across multiple ethnic groups.

Preliminary Results of the Planet Nutrition Program on Obesity Parameters in Mexican Schoolchildren: Pilot Single-School Randomized Controlled Trial.

School-based obesity prevention programs are key to promoting healthy habits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Planet Nutrition program on BMI z-score and other parameters compared to a control group of Mexican schoolchildren after 9 weeks of intervention. The effect of the summer holidays on the BMI z-score was also evaluated at 23 weeks. A pilot randomized controlled trial design was used and 41 schoolchildren were randomized (21 intervention group and 20 control). The program included 18 nutrition education sessions, 20 physical activity classes and six brochures for parents. At 9 weeks, no significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups in the change in BMI z-score (-0.11, 95% CI -0.23, 0.01). Significant differences were observed in some secondary outcomes: body fat percentage (-1.72, 95% CI -3.42, -0.02), waist circumference (-3.45, 95% CI -5.55, -1.36), physical activity (0.44, 95% CI 0.01, 0.88) and nutrition knowledge (1.15, 95% CI 0.27, 2.03). Summer holidays negatively affected the BMI z-score in both groups, reducing the difference observed between groups at 9 weeks (-0.07, 95% CI -0.22, 0.07). The Planet Nutrition program showed favorable effects in some obesity and lifestyle parameters in the short term.