Nonlinear relationships between visceral fat area and percent regional fat mass in the trunk and the lower limbs in Japanese adults.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to examine the relationship between visceral fat area (VFA) and regional fat mass (RFM) or its distribution characteristics and to compare these characteristics between normal and visceral obesity Japanese adults.


METHODS
Nonobese and nonvisceral obese Japanese adults (control group (CG): 44 men and 47 women), obese but nonvisceral obese (obesity group (OG): 15 men and 21 women) and visceral obese group (VOG, 80 men and 17 women). Obesity and visceral obesity were defined as body mass index > or = 25 kg m(-2) and VFA > or = 100 cm(2), respectively, based on the criteria of the examination committee of criteria for obesity disease in Japan. RFM of the both arms, trunk and both legs were measured by DEXA, and we calculated the percent RFM (%RFM). The VFA and subcutaneous fat area were measured at the umbilicus level using CT scans. We examined the relationship between VFA and RFM or %RFM in the Japanese adult population.


RESULTS
Although linear relationships were found between VFA and each RFM, nonlinear relationships were found between VFA and each %RFM. In CG, %RFM of the trunk increases and %RFM of the leg decreases with accumulating VFA, but these relationships declined in VOG.


CONCLUSIONS
These results may suggest that the relationship between %RFM and VFA changes between different visceral obese levels, and for Japanese adults this is found at reaching a 100 cm(2) VFA, which corresponds to the criteria for visceral obesity.
Demura
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Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
Sato
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D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D013851:Thinness; D055815:Young Adult