[Impact of visceral fat measurements and a weight loss support web system on visceral fat loss in a workplace setting: insights from a JVALUE2 (Japanese study of visceral adiposity and lifestyle information; utilization and evaluation)].

OBJECTIVES: Providing different programs of occupational health services in the same company is difficult. We report the results of a parallel randomized trial for the employees of our company for visceral fat measurements and the effect of a weight loss support web system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 181 healthy employees with BMI over 23 who volunteered to participate in this study. In a parallel randomized study, we divided them into 3 groups (A, health guidance by occupational health staff with visceral fat measurements and a weight loss support web system; B, health guidance by occupational health staff with a weight loss support web system; C, without health guidance (control)) by date of birth. To assess the effects of guidance and support, we compared each group's waist circumference (WC), weight, and BMI, before and after the guidance. We also conducted questionnaire surveys of eating behavior and life activities before and after the guidance to estimate the relationship between the intervention method used for each group and their behavioral modification. RESULTS: 150 employees (83%) finished this program. Within 3 months, reduction in the outcome measures was largest in group A, and showed significant differences from the other two groups. For many employees in group A, eating behavior factors improved markedly; however, in the control group, there were no changes in eating behavior or daily living activities. CONCLUSIONS: A parallel randomized trial involving the employees of our company was performed and we scientifically verified the effects of an occupational health programs. Objective study of occupational health activities and measures were enabled by devising methods and procedures, e.g., applying the waiting-list method for the control group. This approach will lead to appropriate selection and precise implementation of evidence-based measures in occupational health in the future.

Effects of Visceral Fat Accumulation Awareness on a Web-Based Weight-Loss Program: Japanese Study of Visceral Adiposity and Lifestyle Information-Utilization and Evaluation (J-VALUE).

A reduction of visceral fat is important for improvement of metabolic risk. This study was designed to compare the effects of a web-based program alone or together with measurement and self-awareness of accumulated visceral fat in Japanese workers. A new noninvasive device to measure visceral fat accumulation was introduced, and efficacy on weight-loss and improvement of healthy behaviors were examined. This study was conducted according to Helsinki declaration and approved by the ethical committee of Japan Hospital Organization, National Kyoto Hospital. Two-hundred and sixteen overweight and obese males with BMI of more than 23 participated from 8 healthcare offices of 3 Japanese private companies. Subjects were randomly allocated into control group, Web-based weight-loss program (Web), or Web + Visceral fat measurement group (Web + VFA). Eighty-one percent of participants completed the study. Reductions of body weight, waist circumference, and BMI were the largest in Web + VFA group, and the differences between groups were significant by ANOVA. Improvements of healthy behaviors were the largest in Web + VFA group, and the differences of healthy eating improvement scores between Web + VFA and control groups were significant. Our findings suggest that measurement and awareness of visceral fat are effective in weight reduction in overweight and obese males in the workplace.

Visceral fat area, waist circumference and metabolic risk factors in abdominally obese Chinese adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of visceral adiposity as measured by VFA and WC with lipid and glucose metabolic biomarkers in abdominally obese Chinese adults, and to assess whether WC could be an indicator of visceral fat. METHODS: WC and VFA were measured in 155 overweight and obese adults. A fasting blood sample was collected from participant (n = 118) whose VFA > or = 100 cm2 for analyses of lipid and glucose profile. The relationship between VFA and WC and biomarkers was investigated. RESULTS: WC and VFA were significantly interrelated. The coincidence rate of abdominal obesity determined by Japanese VFA and Chinese WC criteria increased across age quartiles in women from 51.7% to 96.2%. A large WC was associated significantly with low HDL-cholesterol concentration (P < 0.01) and the association was weakened by additional control of VFA. WC and VFA were positively associated with glucose, hemoglobin A1c and insulin concentrations (P < 0.05 except for the association of VFA with insulin: P < 0.01), and all the associations were not significant by additional control of either WC or VFA. As WC quartiles increased, significant stepwise increments in triglyceride, glucose, hemoglobin A1c and insulin and descent in HDL-cholesterol were observed. However, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were not significantly different when compared across VFA quartiles. CONCLUSION: Higher visceral fat was associated with an adverse lipid and glucose profile. WC can be a moderate predictor for visceral fat and provides a feasible measurement to estimate glucose metabolic risks. Further studies are warranted to establish age-specific WC cutoffs.

Comparison of indirect and direct quantification of glycidol fatty acid ester in edible oils.

Two different methods for determining the levels of glycidol fatty acid esters (GEs) in edible oil-the German official indirect method and the direct LC-MS method-are compared. In some cases, the indirect method showed lower GE levels than the direct method. This was investigated using model studies, which revealed two possible causative factors during the acid treatment of the indirect method: (1) incomplete elimination of GE in oil that was high in GEs initially and (2) generation of GEs and/or its relevant compounds in oil that was rich in partial acylglycerol. Both these factors contributed to the subsequent underestimation of GE levels. The above technical limitations of the indirect method found in the present study has led to the inference that the direct method can more precisely determine the GE levels for a wider range of fats and oil products than the indirect method.