BMI changes during childhood and adolescence as predictors of amount of adult subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue in men: the GOOD Study.
OBJECTIVE
The amount of visceral adipose tissue is a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome. It is unclear how BMI changes during childhood and adolescence predict adult fat distribution. We hypothesized that there are critical periods during development for the prediction of adult subcutaneous and visceral fat mass by BMI changes during childhood and adolescence.


METHODS
Detailed growth charts were retrieved for the men participating in the population-based Gothenburg Osteoporosis and Obesity Determinants (GOOD) Study (n = 612). Body composition was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and adipose tissue areas using abdominal computed tomography at 18 to 20 years of age.


RESULTS
The main finding in the present study was that subjects with increases in BMI Z score of more than 1 SD during adolescence had, independent of prepubertal BMI, both larger subcutaneous (+138%; P < 0.001) and visceral adipose tissue areas (+91%; P < 0.001) than subjects with unchanged BMI Z-score. In contrast, subjects with increases in BMI Z score of more than 1 SD during late childhood had a larger amount of adult subcutaneous adipose tissue (+83%; P < 0.001) than subjects with unchanged BMI Z score but an unaffected amount of visceral adipose tissue. BMI changes during adolescence predict both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue of the abdomen, whereas BMI changes during late childhood predict only the subcutaneous adipose tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
The amount of visceral adipose tissue in young adult men was associated with BMI changes specifically during adolescence, whereas the amount of subcutaneous adipose tissue was associated with BMI changes during both late childhood and adolescence.
Kindblom
Jenny M
JM
Center for Bone Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden. jenny.kindblom@gu.se
Lorentzon
Mattias
M
Hellqvist
Asa
A
Lönn
Lars
L
Brandberg
John
J
Nilsson
Staffan
S
Norjavaara
Ensio
E
Ohlsson
Claes
C
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012867:Skin; D014781:Viscera; D055815:Young Adult