Association between Abdominal Fat (DXA) and Its Subcomponents (CT Scan) before and after Weight Loss in Obese Postmenopausal Women: A MONET Study

Impact of Preoperative Visceral Fat Area Measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis on Clinical and Oncologic Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer

Background: Some studies have shown that an increase in visceral fat is associated with postoperative clinical and oncologic outcomes. However, no studies have used bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to determine the effects of visceral fat on the oncologic outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate the impact of preoperative visceral fat area measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis on clinical and oncologic outcomes of colorectal cancer Methods: This study included 203 patients who underwent anthropometric measurements by BIA before surgical treatment for CRC between January 2016 and June 2020. Results: According to the cut-off level of VFA by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, 85 (40.5%) patients had a low VFA, and 119 (59.5%) had a high VFA. Multivariate analysis found that preoperative CRP (hazard ratio (HR), 3.882; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.001–15.051; p = 0.050) and nodal stage (HR, 7.996; 95% CI, 1.414–45.209; p = 0.019) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival, while sex (HR, 0.110; 95% CI, 0.013–0.905; p = 0.040), lymphovascular invasion (HR, 3.560; 95% CI, 1.098–11.544; p = 0.034), and VFA (HR, 4.263; 95% CI, 1.280–14.196; p = 0.040) were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS). Conclusions: Preoperative VFA measured by BIA had no significant impact on postoperative clinical outcomes and was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival.

Male and female cats have different regional body compositions and energy requirements for weight loss and weight maintenance

Body composition and energy requirements are different between males and females in several species, and both interfere with weight loss. The aim of this study was to compare the total and regional body composition and energy requirements in obese male (n = 8) and female (n = 8) cats, during weight loss and weight maintenance over 17 subsequent weeks after regimen. The total and regional (thoracic and pelvic limbs, and trunk) body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Females exhibited a higher fat mass (FM) than males (p < 0.05), and the trunk was the site with greater fat accumulation regardless of gender. A 23.0 ± 2.8% reduction in body weight was followed by a 50.3 ± 9.4% and a 37.0 ± 8.9% reduction in fat in the trunk region in males and females respectively. Lean mass (LM) mobilization was also increased in the trunk (p < 0.05), and the loss of LM was associated with a reduction in bone mass. The energy intake to achieve the same rate of weight loss was 12.9 ± 3.4% higher in males (p < 0.05). The cats exhibited a gradual increase in energy requirements to maintain their body weight after weight loss (p < 0.05). It was concluded that obese cats mainly accumulate fat in the trunk. The reduction in lean mass after the regimen also occurred in the trunk, with no modifications in the skeletal muscle mass of the limbs. Neutered male cats have higher energy requirements than neutered females, and gender should be considered during obesity management in cats.

Anthropometric indices as surrogates for estimating abdominal visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue: A meta-analysis with 16,129 participants

AIM

To seek anthropometric indices that estimate visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT) by meta-analysis and comparing the predictive efficacy based on different characteristics of participants.

METHODS

PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases were searched for publications containing correlation coefficients of VAT and/or SAT with waist circumference (WC) and/or body mass index (BMI). The overall or subgroup pooled results were analyzed by meta and metafor packages of R with random effects model. MedCalc software was used to compare the correlation coefficients between groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine publications were included in this meta-analysis. The correlation coefficients of VAT-WC, VAT-BMI, SAT-WC and SAT-BMI for total studies were between 0.640 and 0.785. The correlation of VAT with WC was larger than that with BMI (Z = 11.664, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the correlation coefficients of VAT-WC were statistically different among different age groups, areas, ethnicities, body shapes, scanning levels, units and instruments of measuring VAT (P < 0.05). The overall correlation of SAT with BMI was larger than that with WC (Z = 3.805, P < 0.001). The subgroups' correlation coefficients of SAT-BMI showed statistical differences between genders, age groups, areas, ethnicities, body shapes, scanning levels, units (cm² and cm³) and instruments of measuring SAT (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

WC may be a common and simple surrogate for estimating VAT, and BMI for SAT, especially in Europeans, but not in the aged people.

A time-efficient reduction of fat mass in 4 days with exercise and caloric restriction

To determine whether a fast reduction in fat mass can be achieved in 4 days by combining caloric restriction (CR: 3.2 kcal/kg body weight per day) with exercise (8-h walking + 45-min arm cranking per day) to induce an energy deficit of ∼5000 kcal/day, 15 overweight men underwent five experimental phases: pretest, exercise + CR for 4 days (WCR), control diet + reduced exercise for 3 days (DIET), and follow-up 4 weeks (POST1) and 1 year later (POST2). During WCR, the diet consisted solely of whey protein (n = 8) or sucrose (n = 7) (0.8 g/kg body weight per day). After WCR, DIET, POST1, and POST2, fat mass was reduced by a mean of 2.1, 2.8, 3.8, and 1.9 kg (P < 0.05), with two thirds of this loss from the trunk; and lean mass by 2.8, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.4 kg, respectively. After WCR, serum glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced, and free fatty acid and cortisol increased. Serum leptin was reduced by 64%, 50%, and 33% following WCR, DIET, and POST1, respectively (P < 0.05). The effects were similar in both groups. In conclusion, a clinically relevant reduction in fat mass can be achieved in overweight men in just 4 days by combining prolonged exercise with CR.

Changes in body fat distribution and fitness are associated with changes in hemoglobin A1c after 9 months of exercise training: results from the HART-D study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the associations between changes in body composition and fitness after exercise training and changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Participants (n = 201) were randomized to aerobic, resistance, or combined training for 9 months. HbA1c, waist circumference, total and trunk fat mass, appendicular fat mass, lean body mass, isokinetic leg muscle strength, peak O2 uptake, and estimated METs were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Change in HbA1c was evaluated across quartiles of change in body composition and fitness.

RESULTS

Change in HbA1c was associated with changes in body weight (r = 0.13, P = 0.052), waist circumference (r = 0.17, P = 0.013), trunk fat mass (r = 0.19, P = 0.005), and estimated METs (r = -0.16, P = 0.023). There was a trend in change in HbA1c across quartiles of waist circumference (P = 0.011), trunk fat mass (P = 0.020), and estimated METs (P = 0.011). Participants with increased estimated METs and reduced trunk fat mass had greater odds of having reduced HbA1c after training (3.48, 1.46-8.31). Finally, participants with increased estimated METs and reduced waist circumference were 2.81 (1.13-6.98) times more likely to have reduced HbA1c and type 2 diabetes medication use than those without improved fitness and central adiposity.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with type 2 diabetes, a reduction in central adiposity and increase in fitness were the most prominent predictors of the change in HbA1c in response to exercise training.