title: Compatibility of different methods for the measurement of visceral fat in different body mass index strata.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity, particularly visceral obesity, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Therefore, cardiovascular risk should be determined by evaluating visceral fat tissue not only in obese individuals but also in non-obese individuals. We aimed to evaluate the comparison of visceral fat tissue measurement methods with computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred four participants, 19 to 58 years of age (21 males, 83 females) were enrolled in this study. Participants underwent anthropometric evaluation, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), ultrasonography (US), and CT examinations on the same day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean body mass index (BMI) was 31.2 +/- 8.7 kg/m2 (73 individuals [70.2%] had BMI > or =30, and 31 individuals [29.8%] had BMI < 30). The non-obese group (BMI < 30) that showed the best correlation coefficient values were for visceral fat area (VFA) by BIA in all participants, males and women (r = 0.902, P < 0.001; r = 0.994, P < 0.001; r = 0.645, P = 0.01, respectively); in case of BMI > or =30 the best correlation coefficient values were for VFA by BIA (r = 0.774, P < 0.001) for all participants, and visceral fat thickness by US for males (r = 0.851, P < 0.001), and BMI (r = 0.786, P < 0.001) for females. Using multiple stepwise regression analysis, the methods best reflecting VFA by CT were as follows: In subjects with BMI < 25, BIA correlated best with CT measures of VFA; while in subjects with BMI > 30 waist-to-hip ratio showed the best correlation with CT measures of VFA. The method best reflecting VFA by CT was visceral thickness by US in males; and the method best reflecting VFA by CT in females was visceral thickness by US, BMI and waist circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anthropometric measurements and visceral fat tissue measurement methods such as US and BIA exhibit differences with respect to compliance with CT results in visceral fat tissue measurements by gender and BMI levels.
authors.affiliation: Clinics of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berker
authors.forename: Süha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koparal
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Işik
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paşaoğlu
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Kutlu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delibaşi
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Güler
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult