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Assessment of adipose tissue distribution by computed axial tomography in obese women: association with body density and anthropometric measurements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Mario Ferland ,
Jean-pierre DesprÉS ,
Angelo Tremblay ,
Sylvie Pinault ,
AndrÉ Nadeau ,
Sital Moorjani ,
Paul J. Lupien ,
Germain ThÉriault  and
Claude Bouchard
Mario Ferland
Affiliation:
Physical Activity Sciences Laboratory
Jean-pierre DesprÉS
Affiliation:
Physical Activity Sciences Laboratory
Angelo Tremblay
Affiliation:
Physical Activity Sciences Laboratory
Sylvie Pinault
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology
AndrÉ Nadeau
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine
Sital Moorjani
Affiliation:
Lipid Research Unit, Lava1 University, Ste-Foy, Quebec, GIK 7P4, Canada
Paul J. Lupien
Affiliation:
Lipid Research Unit, Lava1 University, Ste-Foy, Quebec, GIK 7P4, Canada
Germain ThÉriault
Affiliation:
Physical Activity Sciences Laboratory
Claude Bouchard
Affiliation:
Physical Activity Sciences Laboratory
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Abstract

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1. Abdominal obesity is associated with numerous metabolic complications. Deep abdominal adipose tissue is critical in the association between the level of abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk factors.

2. Adipose tissue localization was assessed by computed axial tomography (CAT), and its association with body density and anthropometric measurements was investigated in a sample of fifty-one obese women (percentage body fat 45·9 (SD 5·6)) aged 35·7 (SD 5·5) years. The CAT scans were performed at three levels: lower chest, abdomen and mid-thigh.

3. The total adipose tissue volume computed from these three scans was highly correlated with body fat mass (r 0·94, P < 0·001). The proportion of deep abdominal fat as measured by the ratio of deep: total adipose tissue areas at the abdominal level was not significantly correlated with body fat mass, but it was moderately associated with the ratio of waist: hip circumferences (WHR) (r 0·49, P < 0·001). The absolute amount of deep abdominal fat was, however, significantly correlated with body fat mass (r 0·72, P < 0·001).

4. The subscapular (r 0·38) and the abdominal (r 0·38) skinfolds were the only two skinfolds that were significantly associated with the proportion of deep abdominal fat (P < 0·01). These skinfolds were also those which showed the highest correlation with the absolute amount of deep abdominal fat (r 0·65, P < 0·001, for both skinfolds).

5. A three-site CAT-scan procedure can be used for the estimation of body fat mass in premenopausal obese women.

6. In these obese women, there was no significant association between total adiposity and the proportion of deep adipose tissue at the abdominal level.

7. In premenopausal obese women, the absolute amount of deep abdominal fat can be predicted from anthropometric measurements with more accuracy than the relative amount of deep abdominal fat.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 61 , Issue 2 , March 1989 , pp. 139 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1989

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