Measurement of visceral fat by abdominal bioelectrical impedance analysis is beneficial in medical checkup

Novel anthropometric measures are positively associated with erectile dysfunction: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Currently, a growing number of research studies have shown a positive association between obesity and erectile dysfunction, while traditional anthropometric measures, such as BMI, have limited ability to assess the risk of erectile dysfunction. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between the new anthropometric index and erectile dysfunction.

METHODS

A study involving 3594 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted. The study calculated various anthropometric indices such as waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), body mass index (BMI), a body shape index (ABSI), conicity index (CI), and body roundness index (BRI). The relationship between anthropometric indices and erectile dysfunction (ED) was investigated using multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS). Interaction analysis was conducted on subgroups to confirm the findings. Additionally, the efficacy of various anthropometric indicators in predicting the risk of erectile dysfunction was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

RESULTS

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, we identified a positive and independent correlation between erectile dysfunction (ED) and all other anthropometric measures except for BMI. Additionally, the risk of ED increased by 49% and 42% for each standard deviation increment in ABSI and CI, respectively. Dose-response curve analysis demonstrated that WC, BMI, WtHR, and CI displayed a non-linear correlation with the risk of ED. The subgroup analysis revealed that individuals classified as White, who had higher levels of WC, ABSI, and CI, were more susceptible to erectile dysfunction compared to people from other races. ROC analysis showed that ABSI was superior in detecting erectile dysfunction (area under the curve: 0.750; 95% CI 0.732-0.768; optimal cutoff value: 0.083) as compared to other indices. The combination of obesity defined by BMI and other anthropometric measures showed that higher ABSI and CI levels were positively associated with the prevalence of erectile dysfunction, independent of BMI (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, anthropometric indicators including ABSI, BRI, WtHR, CI, and WC were positively associated with erectile dysfunction. To improve the prevention and treatment of this condition, it is recommended that new anthropometric indicators receive greater consideration.

Elastic Textile Wristband for Bioimpedance Measurements

In this paper, wristband electrodes for hand-to-hand bioimpedance measurements are investigated. The proposed electrodes consist of a stretchable conductive knitted fabric. Different implementations have been developed and compared with Ag/AgCl commercial electrodes. Hand-to-hand measurements at 50 kHz on forty healthy subjects have been carried out and the Passing-Bablok regression method has been exploited to compare the proposed textile electrodes with commercial ones. It is demonstrated that the proposed designs guarantee reliable measurements and easy and comfortable use, thus representing an excellent solution for the development of a wearable bioimpedance measurement system.

Waist-hip ratio measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis as a valuable predictor of chronic kidney disease development

Obesity is a major health problem worldwide and is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Body mass index (BMI) is a common method of diagnosing obesity, but there are concerns about its accuracy and ability to measure body composition. This study evaluated the risk of CKD development in a middle-aged population in association with various body composition metrics. From a prospective cohort of 10,030 middle-aged adults, we enrolled 6727 for whom baseline and follow-up data were available. We collected data pertaining to participants' BMI, manually measured waist-hip ratio (WHR), and various measurements of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), including total body fat content, muscle content, and calculated WHR, and classified the participants into quintiles accordingly. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m² in follow-up laboratory tests. While an increase in BMI, WHR, and total body fat were associated with an elevated risk of CKD, an increase in total body muscle decreased the risk. Among the body composition metrics, WHR measured by BIA had the highest predictive value for CKD (C-statistics: 0.615). In addition, participants who were "healthy overweight, (defined as low WHR but high BMI), exhibited a 62% lower risk of developing CKD compared to those with "normal-weight obesity," (defined as high WHR despite a normal BMI). In conclusion, we suggest that central obesity measured by BIA is a more accurate indicator than BMI for predicting the development of CKD.

Visceral Fat Area Measured by Abdominal Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in School-Aged Japanese Children

Abdominal bioelectrical impedance analysis (aBIA) has been in use to measure visceral fat area (VFA) in adults. Accurately measuring visceral fat using aBIA in children is challenging. Forty-six school-aged Japanese children aged 6–17 years (25 boys and 21 girls) were included in this study. All were measured, and their VFA obtained using aBIA (VFA-aBIA) and abdominal computed tomography (CT) (VFA-CT) were compared. VFA-aBIA was corrected using the Passing–Bablok method (corrected VFA-aBIA). The relationships between corrected VFA-aBIA and obesity-related clinical factors were analyzed, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and serum leptin and adiponectin levels. Boys had higher VFA-CT than girls (p = 0.042), although no significant differences were found in their waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and body mass index. The corrected VFA-aBIA using y = 9.600 + 0.3825x (boys) and y = 7.607 + 0.3661x (girls) correlated with VFA-CT in both boys and girls. The corrected VFA-aBIA in patients with NAFLD was higher than that in those without NAFLD. Serum leptin and adiponectin levels were positively and negatively correlated with corrected VFA-aBIA, respectively. In conclusion, corrected VFA-aBIA was clearly correlated with VFA-CT and was related to NAFLD and serum leptin and adiponectin levels in school-aged Japanese children.

Computed Tomography Image Analysis of Body Fat Based on Multi-Image Information

Body fat assessment is required as part of an objective health assessment, both for nonobese and obese people. Image-based body fat assessment will enable faster diagnosis. Body fat analysis that accounts for age and sex will help in both diagnosis and correlating diseases and fat distribution. After evaluating computed tomography imaging algorithms to identify and segment human abdominal and subcutaneous fat, we present an improved region growing scale-invariant feature transform algorithm. It applies Naive Bayes image thresholding for key point selection and image matching. This method enables rapid and accurate comparison and matching of images from multiple databases and improves the efficiency of image processing.

Forced Sedentariness and Sports Activity as Factors Differentiating Anthropometric Characteristics, Indices, and Body Composition in People with Disabilities

Simple Summary

People with disabilities, especially those with musculoskeletal disabilities, are prone to leading forced sedentary lifestyles due to their limitations. Inactivity or reduced physical activity affect their body composition and physique. There are also athletes among people with disabilities. The sports they practice can compensate for physical inactivity in everyday life. The aim of our study was to demonstrate that forced sedentariness and varied sports activity are factors differentiating between anthropometric characteristics, indices, and body composition of individuals with disabilities, including Polish Para athletes (track and field athletes, sitting volleyball players, and wheelchair rugby players). It was found that non-athletes had the highest levels of obesity indices compared to Para athletes. Furthermore, in the group of Polish Para athletes, sitting volleyball players had the highest values of obesity indices. The results of the present study indicate that forced sedentariness and sports activity among individuals with disabilities differentiate body structure and physique.

Abstract

Introduction: Although the assessment of physique and body composition poses methodological, technical, and interpretative difficulties, it is of great importance for the health of people with disabilities. The aim of the study was to demonstrate that sedentariness and sports activity are factors differentiating anthropometric characteristics, indices, and body composition in people with physical disabilities. Materials and methods: Fifty-eight people were examined: 48 elite Polish Para athletes, including Paralympic track and field athletes (PTF, n = 8), sitting volleyball players (SV, n = 15), wheelchair rugby players (WR, n = 25), and individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI, n = 10). Body mass (BM), body height (BH), body length (BL), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), body fat percentage (%FT), and visceral fat rating (VFR) were measured. Furthermore, BMI, BMIcorrected, and body adiposity index (BAI) were evaluated. Results: The highest WC, BAI, %FT, and VFR were found for the CSCI group. The type of sport significantly differentiated between anthropometric features, indices, and body composition of the athletes. Sitting volleyball players achieved the highest mean BM (83.9), WC (92.9), HC (103.7), BMI (24.5), BAI (23.4), and VFR (12.6). The highest %FT (28.9) was found in wheelchair rugby players. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that forced sedentariness and sports activity among individuals with disabilities differentiate body structure and physique.

Excess Weight and Body Fat Percentage Associated with Waist Circumference as a Cardiometabolic Risk Factor in University Students

BACKGROUND

Obesity is one of the most important public health problems for university students. The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (%BF) with waist circumference (WC) as a cardiometabolic risk factor (CMR) among university students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2,048 students from a private university located in Lima, Peru. Anthropometric data (weight, height, %BF, and WC) were collected. Chi-square test was used. Association analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that 36.9% and 61.1% of men were overweight and had higher %BF, respectively, compared to women. Women (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.17, 0.29), Peruvian students (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.39, 0.90), and students enrolled in the faculty of health sciences (OR = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62, 0.94) are less likely to manifest CMR. Also, excess body weight (OR, 17.28; 95% CI, 13.21, 22.59) and a high %BF (OR, 4.55; 95% CI, 3.55, 5.84) were strongly associated with CMR.

CONCLUSION

CMRs are a public health problem among university students. Therefore, it is important to carry out healthy lifestyle programs to promote better control and prevention, particularly among male students and those who have excess weight and body fat.

The Association of Sarcopenia and Visceral Obesity with Lean Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Few studies have specifically observed the relationship of sarcopenia, visceral obesity, or their joint effects with lean NAFLD in patients with diabetes. We aimed to investigate the associations of lean NAFLD with sarcopenia, visceral obesity, and sarcopenic visceral obesity (SV) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Altogether, 1,112 T2DM patients with BMI <25 kg/m² were enrolled, and 33.18% of them were diagnosed with lean NAFLD by abdominal ultrasonography. Body composition markers were measured by bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was calculated as appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) divided by weight, and sarcopenia was defined as SMI < 1 standard deviation (SD) below the sex-specific average for a young reference population. Visceral obesity was defined as visceral fat area (VFA) ≥ 100 cm². Participants were categorized into one of the four body composition groups: nonsarcopenia/nonvisceral obesity (NN), nonsarcopenia/visceral obesity (NV), sarcopenia/nonvisceral obesity (SN), and SV.

RESULTS

Compared to those in the NN group, patients in the NV and SN groups had a higher risk of lean NAFLD after full adjustments (NV: OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.78; SN: OR =2.07; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.46). Of note, patients in the SV group had the highest odds of lean NAFLD (OR = 3.29; 95% CI: 2.10, 5.17). There were no significant interaction effects between sarcopenia and metabolic risk factors on prevalent lean NAFLD.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrated that SV was more closely associated with higher prevalent lean NAFLD than sarcopenia or visceral obesity alone in Chinese patients with T2DM. Besides, the harmful effect of sarcopenia on lean NAFLD was not influenced by visceral obesity or other metabolic risk factors. We hypothesize that increasing skeletal muscle mass more than just reducing visceral fat might be more optimal for the prevention and management of lean NAFLD, which needs further investigation in future studies.

Accuracy of Waist Circumference Measurement using the WHO versus NIH Protocol in Predicting Visceral Adiposity Using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis among Overweight and Obese Adult Filipinos in a Tertiary Hospital

Objectives

The study aimed to compare the performance of weight circumference (WC) measurement using the World Health Organization (WHO) versus National Institutes of Health (NIH) protocol in identifying visceral adiposity, and to determine the association of WC with cardiometabolic risk factors among overweight and obese adult Filipinos.

Methodology

A retrospective study involving 221 subjects (99 males, 122 females) evaluated at an outpatient weight intervention center of a tertiary hospital. The WC was measured at the superior border of the iliac crest (WC-NIH) and midway between the lowest rib and the iliac crest (WC-WHO) for each patient. Using visceral fat rating (VF) derived via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as reference standard, diagnostic accuracy tests for both protocols (using cut-offs of ≥90 cm in males and ≥80 cm in females) were done. Cardiometabolic parameters were also obtained, and binary logistic regression was performed to determine associations with WC.

Results

Among males, WC-WHO had 96% sensitivity (95% CI 88.8%-99.2%) and 25% specificity (95% CI 9.77%-46.7%) while WC-NIH had 94.7% sensitivity (95% CI 86.9%-98.5%) and 29.2% specificity (95% CI 12.6%-51.1%) to predict high VF >12. Among females, WC-WHO had 100% sensitivity (95% CI 90%-100%) and 24.1% specificity (95% CI 15.6%-34.5%) while WC-NIH had 100% sensitivity (95% CI 90%-100%) and 4.6% specificity (95% CI 1.3%-11.4%). Prevalence of high VF was significantly greater among males – 75.8% (95% CI 66.1%-83.8%) vs. 28.7% (95% CI 20.9%-37.6%) in females (p<0.001). Among females, WC-NIH tended to have higher measurements than WC-WHO by an average of 4.67 cm. Females with WC-WHO measurements of at least 80 cm were approximately four times more likely to have low (<50 mg/dL) HDL levels (cOR 3.82, p=<0.05), even after adjusting for age (aOR 3.83, p=<0.05).

Conclusion

WC measurement using the WHO and NIH protocols were both highly sensitive but had low specificity in predicting high VF estimated via BIA among overweight and obese adult Filipinos in this study. WC-NIH measurements tended to be higher among the females, which may affect classification of central obesity when using this protocol. WC ≥80 cm measured using the WHO protocol was associated with low HDL levels among female subjects. Prospective studies conducted among the general Filipino population are recommended to verify these findings.

Inverse association of plasma hydrogen sulfide levels with visceral fat area among Chinese young men: a cross-sectional study

Objective

To investigate the association between plasma Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) levels and visceral fat area (VFA) among Chinese young men.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved 156 Chinese male subjects, aged 18-45 years, who visited the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao (Hebei, China) in 2014 for annual health check-up. Participants were categorized into: low (VFA < 75.57 cm²), medium (75.57 cm² ≤ VFA<100.37 cm²), and high (VFA ≥ 100.37 cm²) (n = 52/group). We estimated VFA and plasma H₂S levels by using bioelectrical impedance analysis and a fluorescence probe-based approach, respectively. The associations of H₂S with VFA and obesity anthropometric measures were assessed.

Results

In the high VFA group, the body mass index (BMI, 30.4 ± 2.45 kg/m²), total body fat (TBF, 27.9 ± 3.23 kg), plasma H₂S (3.5 µmol/L), free fatty acid (FFA, 0.6 ± 0.24 mmol/L), triglyceride (TG, 2.0 mmol/L), and total cholesterol (TC, 5.5 ± 1.02 mmol/L) levels were significantly higher than that of those of the low and medium VFA groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Plasma H₂S levels were found to be inversely correlated with VFA, TBF, waist circumference, BMI, FFA, LnFINS, LnHOMA-IR, LnTG, TC, and LDL-C (P < 0.05). Multiple backward stepwise regression analysis revealed an inverse correlation of plasma H₂S levels with FFA (β = -0.214, P = 0.005) and VFA (β = -0.429, P < 0.001), independent of adiposity measures and other confounding factors.

Conclusion

VFA was independently and inversely associated with plasma H₂S levels among Chinese young men. Therefore, determining plasma H₂S levels could aid in the assessment of abnormal VAT distribution.

Adiposity and Cardiometabolic Risk assessment Among University Students in Saudi Arabia

Overweight and obesity have become a significant health hazard among adolescents on account of quick growth in its occurrence rate and its common comorbidities like cardiometabolic disease (CMD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of adiposity and assess the risk of CMD among university students in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the academic year 2017-2018, in a sample of 310 subjects (127 males; 183 females). The measurements were taken using standardized instruments including Body Mass Index (BMI), Fat Mass Index (FMI), Body Fat Percentage BFP), Mass of Body Fat (MBF), Visceral Fat Area (VFA), Waist Circumference (WC), and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR). Moreover, CMD risk indicators were calculated by Conicity index (C index), WC, and WHR. The findings showed that the majority was overweight and obese (16.8% and 21.6%, respectively). While evaluating obesity indicators, males were found to have higher adiposity (obese students 34.6%) compared to female students (12.6%; p < 0.001). Additionally, FMI showed that the mean was significantly higher among males (8.65 ± 6.06) compared to females (7.26 ± 3.30; p < 0.019). Analysis of the predictors' indices for cardiometabolic risk score highlighted a significantly higher percentage of WC, WHR, and C index among male students (50, 38.5, 59) compared to females (16.9, 14.2, 34; p < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were observed between C index quartiles and BMI with the other cardiometabolic indices (p < 0.001). This study highlighted a high prevalence of adiposity and CMD risk among university students. The prediction of CMD in early age is quite helpful in preventing adiposity related health issues. Decision makers need to spread awareness about healthy consumption as well as the relationship between physical inactivity and chronic diseases.

Evaluation of Different Adiposity Indices and Association with Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Obese Children: Is there a Winner?

Body shape index (ABSI) and triponderal mass index (TMI) have been recently associated with cardiovascular risk in adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between different anthropometric adiposity indexes and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Caucasian obese children and adolescents. Consecutive obese children aged ≥7 years have been enrolled. Anthropometric parameters, body composition (by bioelectrical impedance), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure have been measured. Fasting blood samples have been analyzed for lipids, insulin, glucose. A multivariate logistic regression analyses, with body mass index z-score, waist to height ratio, ABSI z-score, TMI, conicity index as predictors for MetS (IDEFICS and IDF criteria according to age) has been performed. Four hundred and three (179 boys and 224 girls) obese children, aged 7–20 years, have been evaluated. When we explored the joint contribution of each anthropometric and adiposity index of interest and BMIz on the risk of MetS, we found that the inclusion of ABSIz improved the prediction of MetS compared to BMIz alone. ABSI-BMI can be a useful index for evaluating the relative contribution of central obesity to cardiometabolic risk in clinical management of obese children and adolescents.

Comparison of obesity classification methods among college students

The purpose of this study was to compare obesity classification methods (body mass index (BMI)), abdominal girth (AG), and body fat percentage (BF%)), among college students. College students (n=5943) completed an objective fitness assessment, where height and weight (used to calculate BMI), AG, and BF% (using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) were assessed. Correlation and chi-square tests for independence analyses examined relationships between variables and obesity classification methods; and, the sensitivity and specify of BMI using AG and BF% were calculated. Significant correlations were found between BMI and BF% for men (r=0.775, p<0.001) and women (r=0.849, p<0.001); BMI and AG for men (r=0.868, p<0.001) and women (r=0.858, p<0.001); and, BF% and AG for men (r=0.749, p<0.001) and women (r=0.767, p<0.001). There were significant associations between BMI, AG, and BF% for both sexes. Obesity categorization differed significantly between methods. In men and women, respectively, 47.6% and 44.1% classified as normal weight based on BF% were classified as overweight or obese based on BMI (Men: χ2=1547, p<0.001; Women: χ2=1127, p<0.001). In men and women, respectively, 48.3% and 24.0% classified as normal based on AG were classified as overweight or obese using BMI (Men: χ2=1274, p<0.001; Women: χ2=996, p<0.001). Comparing AG and BF%, 25.1% of men and 18.6% of women classified as normal based on AG were classified as overweight or obese using BF% (Men: χ2=1412, p<0.001; Women: χ2=421, p<0.001). Obesity classification differed significantly between methods, and BMI demonstrated relatively poor predictive value with respect to obesity classification. Thus, caution should be applied when using BMI to diagnose obesity among college students.

Contrast in the circadian behaviors of an electrodermal activity and bioimpedance spectroscopy

Probing the electrical response of the human body is minimally invasive and a promising area of investigation for future health care. The electrical responses of individuals may vary depending on daily physiological rhythms or environmental changes, which may hamper their prediction for pathological status. In this study, we observed circadian expressions via both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) electrical responses of the human body using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and electrodermal activity (EDA). In total, 14 healthy adults (9 males and 5 females) participated and were hospitalized for 2 nights with controlled caloric intake, sleep hours and residential conditions. The EDA data showed a significant circadian rhythm, but the BIA data did not show significant modulations during the measurement period. No difference was found between circadian changes in male and female participants. The acrophase of the EDA voltage response showed similar behavior with variations in the heart rate variability, with a resistance minimum occurring at approximately 4 pm, implying that the behavior of the EDA is probably affected by the sympathetic nerve response. Moreover, the resistance of the EDA varied by up to 15% from its mean value, which suggests that circadian variations cannot be neglected for the correct diagnosis of pathological conditions. In contrast, the BIA method did not show this circadian variation but showed independent results over the measurement period. This difference in performance implies that the DC and AC responses of the human body contain different electrophysiological information.

Using Body Mass Index and Bioelectric Impedance Analysis to Assess the Need for Positive Oral Contrast Agents Before Abdominopelvic CT

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine whether body fat percentage, measured using a portable handheld bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) device, and body mass index (BMI, weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) can estimate the amount of intraabdominal and intrapelvic fat and thereby predict the need for oral contrast material before abdominopelvic CT.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A prospective, institutional review board-approved study consisting of 101 patients who presented to the emergency department of a level I trauma center was conducted between June 1, 2016, and July 19, 2016. A medical student calculated patients' BMI and obtained body fat measurements from a handheld BIA device. Three fellowship-trained and board-certified radiologists who were blinded to the collected data then assigned a score of 1-5 on the basis of the amount of intraabdominal and intrapelvic fat seen on CT images. A McNemar test was used to compare overall sensitivity and specificity of this method, and a weighted Fleiss kappa score was used to determine interobserver variability between the three radiologists.

RESULTS

Nearly all (97%) of the patients with high BMI (BMI ≥ 25) had sufficient amounts of intraabdominal and intrapelvic fat to allow delineation of anatomic structures without the use of oral contrast material. Of the patients with low BMI (BMI ≤ 21), 83% had inadequate amounts of fat to separate intraabdominal and intrapelvic structures. For patients with intermediate BMIs (21 < BMI < 25), BIA-determined body fat percentage of 30% or more can be used to predict whether a patient will have sufficient intraabdominal and intra-pelvic fat to obviate oral contrast material for CT.

CONCLUSION

Using BIA in addition to BMI accurately predicts amount of intraabdominal and intrapelvic fat. This information may help guide the decision to use oral contrast material in patients presenting for abdominopelvic CT.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and the metabolic syndrome: Roles of inflammation and abdominal obesity

OBJECTIVE

Individuals with metabolic syndrome have increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to test the hypothesis that a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CR-fitness), counteracts accumulation of visceral fat, decreases inflammation and lowers risk factors of the metabolic syndrome.

METHOD

The study sample included 1,293 Danes (age 49-52 years) who from 2009 to 2011 participated in the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank, including a questionnaire, physical tests, and blood samples. Multiple linear regression models were performed with CR-fitness as exposure and plasma levels of cytokines and high sensitive C-reactive protein as outcomes and measures of abdominal obesity were added to test if they explained the potential association. Similarly, multiple linear regression models were performed with CR-fitness as exposure and factors of the metabolic syndrome as outcomes and the potential explanation by inflammatory biomarkers were tested. All models were adjusted for the effect of age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, socio-economic status, and acute inflammatory events within the preceding two weeks.

RESULTS

CR-fitness was inversely associated with high sensitive C-reactive protein, Interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-18, and directly associated with the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, but not associated with tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma or IL-1β. Abdominal obesity could partly explain the significant associations. Moreover, CR-fitness was inversely associated with an overall metabolic syndrome score, as well as triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin A1c, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and directly associated with high-density lipoprotein. Single inflammatory biomarkers and a combined inflammatory score partly explained these associations.

CONCLUSION

Data suggest that CR-fitness has anti-inflammatory effects that are partly explained by a reduction in abdominal obesity and a decrease in the metabolic syndrome risk profile. The overall inflammatory load was mainly driven by high sensitive C-reactive protein and IL-6.

Computational method for estimating boundary of abdominal subcutaneous fat for absolute electrical impedance tomography

Abdominal fat accumulation is considered an essential indicator of human health. Electrical impedance tomography has considerable potential for abdominal fat imaging because of the low specific conductivity of human body fat. In this paper, we propose a robust reconstruction method for high-fidelity conductivity imaging by abstraction of the abdominal cross section using a relatively small number of parameters. Toward this end, we assume homogeneous conductivity in the abdominal subcutaneous fat area and characterize its geometrical shape by parameters defined as the ratio of the distance from the center to boundary of subcutaneous fat to the distance from the center to outer boundary in 64 equiangular directions. To estimate the shape parameters, the sensitivity of the noninvasively measured voltages with respect to the shape parameters is formulated for numerical optimization. Numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the validity of the proposed method. A 3-dimensional finite element method is used to construct a computer model of the human abdomen. The inverse problems of shape parameters and conductivities are solved concurrently by iterative forward and inverse calculations. As a result, conductivity images are reconstructed with a small systemic error of less than 1% for the estimation of the subcutaneous fat area. A novel method is devised for estimating the boundary of the abdominal subcutaneous fat. The fidelity of the overall reconstructed image to the reference image is significantly improved. The results demonstrate the possibility of realization of an abdominal fat scanner as a low-cost, radiation-free medical device.

Effective waist circumference reduction rate necessary to avoid the development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese men with abdominal obesity

The aim of this study was to determine the effective waist circumference (WC) reduction rate in avoiding the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in <55 years and ≥55 years Japanese men with abdominal obesity. The study subjects were 795 men with WC ≥85 cm, fasting plasma glucose <126 mg/dL, 2-hr plasma glucose on 75 g of oral glucose tolerance test <200 mg/dL, and HbA1c 5.6-6.4 % (38-40 mmol/mol) at baseline who underwent general health checkups more than twice between April 2007 and May 2015. They were divided into 5 groups based on the change in WC during the observation period (WC gain group, and four groups stratified according the rate of WC loss). The subjects were also divided into the <55 years and ≥55 years (at baseline) subgroups. The cumulative incidence rate of T2DM was analyzed and compared among the groups. The cumulative incidence rates of the largest WC loss quartile (≥5.45 %) in all age, of the largest WC loss quartile (≥5.60 %) and second largest WC loss quartile (3.44-5.59 %) in the <55 years subgroup, and of the largest WC loss quartile (≥5.37 %) in the ≥55 years subgroup were significantly lower than that of the gain group (p<0.001, p=0.009, 0.012, and 0.012, respectively). WC reduction rate of at least about 3 % in the younger (<55 years) and at least about 5 % in the older (≥55 years) non-diabetic Japanese men with abdominal obesity can effectively reduce the chance of development of T2DM.

Comparison of Abdominal Visceral Adipose Tissue Area Measured by Computed Tomography with That Estimated by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Method in Korean Subjects

We evaluated the concordance between visceral fat area (VFA) estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) or computed tomography (CT) in Korean subjects with a wide range in age and body mass index (BMI). In 1006 individuals (mean age 55.2 ± 11.8 (19-87) years, mean BMI 26.0 ± 3.5 (17-46) kg/m², 48.9% men), VFA quantified by CT was compared with VFA using multifrequency BIA machines within 15 days. Concordance rates were compared by age or BMI using correlation analysis, Bland-Altman plots, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Using BIA data, we established a regression formula to reflect CT-VFA. The mean VFAs by CT and BIA were 131.9 ± 57.3 cm² and 110.5 ± 33.9 cm², respectively (r = 0.605, p < 0.001). The mean difference was 21.4 ± 45.6 cm², tending to increase with BMI. In women with BMI <25 kg/m² or age <50 years, the VFAs by BIA were similar to those by CT (ICC = 0.496 in BMI <25 kg/m² and ICC = 0.638 in age <50 years). However, the difference was greater in men with BMI ≥25 kg/m² or age ≥50 years. Applying our formula, the difference between estimations decreased to 0.2 ± 38.2cm². VFA estimated by BIA correlated well with that by CT, but a more accurate formula is needed to match CT data, particularly in older men or subjects with a high BMI.

Higher visceral fat area increases the risk of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in Chinese adults

BACKGROUND

Visceral fat area (VFA), a novel sex-specific index for visceral fat obesity (VFO) might play a major role in the development of vitamin D deficiency. However, the association between VFA and vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in Chinese population is less clear. The aim of this study was to explore the population-level association between VFA and vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among Chinese men and women.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved 1105 adults aged 20-70 years living in Tianjin who were randomly selected and medically examined. All subjects underwent the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method to estimate the VFA. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH) D3) level was assayed by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and defined insufficiency and deficiency following recommended cutoffs. The association between VFA and vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency was estimated using binary regression analysis.

RESULTS

The total prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH) D3: 20-29 μg/L) and deficiency (25(OH) D3 < 20 μg/L) were 26.60 % and 24.89 %, respectively. Significant negative association was observed for VFA with serum 25(OH) D3 levels in men and pre-menopausal women (P < 0.05), not in post-menopausal women (P > 0.05). Moreover, increased VFA was observed to be associated with higher vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency risk with a positive dose-response trend (P for trend < 0.001). As compared to individuals with the lowest VFA, those who had the highest VFA were at 4.9-fold risk of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency [95 % confidence interval (95 % CI): 1.792-13.365] in men and 1.8-fold risk of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency (95 % CI: 1.051-3.210) in pre-menopausal women, but not in post-menopausal women [odds ratio (OR) (95 % CI): 2.326(0.903-5.991)].

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that higher VFA increases the risk of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in men and pre-menopausal women, but not in post-menopausal women. VFA is a better and convenience surrogate marker for visceral adipose measurement and could be used in identifying the risk of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in routine health examination.

The clinical importance of visceral adiposity: a critical review of methods for visceral adipose tissue analysis

As a result of the rising epidemic of obesity, understanding body fat distribution and its clinical implications is critical to timely treatment. Visceral adipose tissue is a hormonally active component of total body fat, which possesses unique biochemical characteristics that influence several normal and pathological processes in the human body. Abnormally high deposition of visceral adipose tissue is known as visceral obesity. This body composition phenotype is associated with medical disorders such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and several malignancies including prostate, breast and colorectal cancers. Quantitative assessment of visceral obesity is important for evaluating the potential risk of development of these pathologies, as well as providing an accurate prognosis. This review aims to compare different methods of measuring visceral adiposity with emphasis on their advantages and drawbacks in clinical practice.

Obesity and eating habits among college students in Saudi Arabia: a cross sectional study

Background

During the last few decades, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) experienced rapid socio-cultural changes caused by the accelerating economy in the Arabian Gulf region. That was associated with major changes in the food choices and eating habits which, progressively, became more and more "Westernized". Such "a nutritional transition" has been claimed for the rising rates of overweight and obesity which were recently observed among Saudi population. Therefore, the objectives of the current work were to 1) determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a sample of male college students in KSA and 2) determine the relationship between the students' body weight status and composition and their eating habits.

Methods

A total of 357 male students aged 18-24 years were randomly chosen from College of Health Sciences at Rass, Qassim University, KSA for the present study. A Self-reported questionnaire about the students' eating habits was conducted, and their body mass index (BMI), body fat percent (BF%), and visceral fat level (VFL) were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software, and the Chi-square test was conducted for variables.

Results

The current data indicated that 21.8% of the students were overweight and 15.7% were obese. The total body fat exceeded its normal limits in 55.2% of the participants and VFL was high in 21.8% of them. The most common eating habits encountered were eating with family, having two meals per day including breakfast, together with frequent snacks and fried food consumption. Vegetables and fruits, except dates, were not frequently consumed by most students. Statistically, significant direct correlations were found among BMI, BF% and VFL (P < 0.001). Both BMI and VFL had significant inverse correlation with the frequency of eating with family (P = 0.005 and 0.007 respectively). Similar correlations were also found between BMI and snacks consumption rate (P = 0.018), as well as, between VFL and the frequency of eating dates (P = 0.013).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest the need for strategies and coordinated efforts at all levels to reduce the tendency of overweight, obesity and elevated body fat, and to promote healthy eating habits in our youth.