title: Visceral obesity as a risk factor for colorectal neoplasm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity as a risk factor for colorectal neoplasm (CRN) is controversial. In the present study, we evaluated visceral obesity as a risk factor for CRN.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled 200 consecutive, asymptomatic adults (male : female = 133:67, mean age, 50.9 +/- 8.5 years) undergoing both colonoscopy and abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scan for routine health evaluations. The presence or absence and the characteristics of CRN were determined during colonoscopy. The amount of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue was measured by an abdominopelvic CT scan. Body mass index, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat were measured. Blood pressure and other blood markers for assessing the metabolic syndrome were also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 200 patients, 53 (26.5%) had CRN. Old age, smoking, metabolic syndrome, and a high fasting plasma glucose level were associated with an increased risk of CRN. VAT (P < 0.01) and waist circumference (P = 0.01) were significantly higher in those with CRN. A multivariate analysis of the risks of CRN showed an odds ratio of 4.07 (95% confidence interval: 1.01-16.43, P = 0.03) for those with VAT over 136.61 cm(2) relative to those with VAT under 67.23 cm(2). Waist circumference, metabolic syndrome, and fasting plasma glucose levels were not independent risk factors for CRN in the multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased VAT is an independent risk factor for CRN. Further large scale studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship between VAT and CRN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jeong-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Byeon
authors.forename: Seung-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Myung
authors.forename: Suk-Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kwi-Sook
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jin-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D049628:Body Size; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed