Waist circumference measurement sites and their association with visceral and subcutaneous fat and cardiometabolic abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the degree of variability of the waist circumference (WC) when obtained in different anatomical sites and compare the performance of the measurement sites as predictors of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and cardiometabolic abnormalities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 119 individuals with overweight (50.3 ± 12.2 years), in which six WC measurement sites were evaluated (minimal waist, immediately below the lowest rib, midpoint between the lowest rib and the iliac crest, 2 cm above the umbilicus, immediately above the iliac crest, umbilicus level), in addition to the VAT and SAT (quantified by computed tomography) and cardiometabolic parameters. RESULTS: The differences between the measurements ranged from 0.2 ± 2.7 cm to 6.9 ± 6.7 cm for men, and from 0.1 ± 3.7 cm to 10.1 ± 4.3 cm for women. The minimum waist showed significant correlation with VAT (r = 0.70) and with a higher number of cardiometabolic parameters among men. Regarding women, the WC measurement showed high correlation with SAT and moderate correlation with VAT, not being found superiority of one measurement protocol in relation to the others when assessed the correlation with VAT and with cardiometabolic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Greater variability between the measuring sites was observed among women. With respect to men, the minimum waist performed better as a predictor of VAT and cardiometabolic alterations.

Waist circumference measurement sites and their association with visceral and subcutaneous fat and cardiometabolic abnormalities

ABSTRACT Objectives: To estimate the degree of variability of the waist circumference (WC) when obtained in different anatomical sites and compare the performance of the measurement sites as predictors of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and cardiometabolic abnormalities. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional study involving 119 individuals with overweight (50.3 ± 12.2 years), in which six WC measurement sites were evaluated (minimal waist, immediately below the lowest rib, midpoint between the lowest rib and the iliac crest, 2 cm above the umbilicus, immediately above the iliac crest, umbilicus level), in addition to the VAT and SAT (quantified by computed tomography) and cardiometabolic parameters. Results: The differences between the measurements ranged from 0.2 ± 2.7 cm to 6.9 ± 6.7 cm for men, and from 0.1 ± 3.7 cm to 10.1 ± 4.3 cm for women. The minimum waist showed significant correlation with VAT (r = 0.70) and with a higher number of cardiometabolic parameters among men. Regarding women, the WC measurement showed high correlation with SAT and moderate correlation with VAT, not being found superiority of one measurement protocol in relation to the others when assessed the correlation with VAT and with cardiometabolic parameters. Conclusions: Greater variability between the measuring sites was observed among women. With respect to men, the minimum waist performed better as a predictor of VAT and cardiometabolic alterations.

Effects of weight loss on adipose visceral and subcutaneous tissue in overweight adults.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Weight loss is an important strategy for mitigating the complications of obesity. However, weight reduction does not provide detailed information on relative changes in bodily behaviors and in abdominal fat deposits (adipose visceral tissue (AVT) and adipose subcutaneous tissue (AST)). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of weight loss based on calorie restriction on AVT and AST in overweight individuals (1); to verify the metabolic benefits resulting from AVT reduction (2); and to the analyze the influence of covariates in AVT and AST reduction (3). METHODS: Clinical intervention study involving overweight adult patients, seen at a public hospital in the Northeast of Brazil, who underwent three months of calorie restriction. AVT and AST were quantified using computed tomography at the baseline and at the end of a follow up. RESULTS: 51 patients were evaluated (50.2 ± 11.3 years old), for whom it was verified that a 5.8(±6.2)% weight reduction in the men resulted in a 11.2(±7.9)% reduction in AVT and 6.8(±11.2)% in AST. Among the women, a 4.1(±2.5)% reduction in initial weight resulted in a 11.1(±8.8)% decrease in AVT and 5.6(±7.4)% in AST. Simple linear regression showed that a reduction in AVT caused a 54.9% reduction in triglyceride concentrations in the men and a 12.2% reduction in cholesterol and 31.4% in triglyceride levels in women. Multiple regression identified different factors that influenced the reduction in visceral and subcutaneous fat. The predictive models explained 42.9% and 54.8% of the AVT reduction in the females and males, respectively; and 39.9% and 86.7% of the AST reduction in the females and males, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A modest 5% weight loss caused substantial AVT and AST mobilization, with potential benefits to cardiometabolic profile.

Predictive models for estimating visceral fat: The contribution from anthropometric parameters.

BACKGROUND: Excessive adipose visceral tissue (AVT) represents an independent risk factor for cardiometabolic alterations. The search continues for a highly valid marker for estimating visceral adiposity that is a simple and low cost tool able to screen individuals who are highly at risk of being viscerally obese. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for estimating AVT volume using anthropometric parameters. OBJECTIVE: Excessive adipose visceral tissue (AVT) represents an independent risk factor for cardiometabolic alterations. The search continues for a highly valid marker for estimating visceral adiposity that is a simple and low cost tool able to screen individuals who are highly at risk of being viscerally obese. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for estimating AVT volume using anthropometric parameters. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving overweight individuals whose AVT was evaluated (using computed tomography-CT), along with the following anthropometric parameters: body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference (AC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), sagittal diameter (SD), conicity index (CI), neck circumference (NC), neck-to-thigh ratio (NTR), waist-to-thigh ratio (WTR), and body adiposity index (BAI). RESULTS: 109 individuals with an average age of 50.3±12.2 were evaluated. The predictive equation developed to estimate AVT in men was AVT = -1647.75 +2.43(AC) +594.74(WHpR) +883.40(CI) (R2 adjusted: 64.1%). For women, the model chosen was: AVT = -634.73 +1.49(Age) +8.34(SD) + 291.51(CI) + 6.92(NC) (R2 adjusted: 40.4%). The predictive ability of the equations developed in relation to AVT volume determined by CT was 66.9% and 46.2% for males and females, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A quick and precise AVT estimate, especially for men, can be obtained using only AC, WHpR, and CI for men, and age, SD, CI, and NC for women. These equations can be used as a clinical and epidemiological tool for overweight individuals.