Use of a morphometric method and body fat index system for estimation of body composition in overweight and obese cats.
OBJECTIVE
To develop morphometric equations for prediction of body composition and create a body fat index (BFI) system to estimate body fat percentage in overweight and obese cats.


METHODS
Prospective evaluation study.


METHODS
76 overweight or obese cats ≥ 1 year of age.


METHODS
Body condition score (BCS) was determined with a 5-point scale, morphometric measurements were made, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed. Visual and palpation-based evaluation of various body regions was conducted, and results were used for development of the BFI system. Best-fit multiple regression models were used to develop equations for predicting lean body mass and fat mass from morphometric measurements. Predicted values for body composition components were compared with DEXA results.


RESULTS
For the study population, prediction equations accounted for 85% of the variation in lean body mass and 98% of the variation in fat mass. Values derived from morphometric equations for fat mass and lean mass were within 10% of DEXA values for 55 of 76 (72%) and 66 of 76 (87%) cats, respectively. Body fat as a percentage of total body weight (ie, body fat percentage) predicted with the BCS and BFI was within 10% of the DEXA value for 5 of 39 (13%) and 22 of 39 (56%) cats, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The BFI system and morphometric equations were considered accurate for estimation of body composition components in overweight and obese cats of the study population and appeared to be more useful than BCS for evaluation of these patients. Further research is needed to validate the use of these methods in other feline populations.
Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996.
Angela L
AL
Witzel
Claudia A
CA
Kirk
George A
GA
Henry
Philip W
PW
Toll
John J
JJ
Brejda
Inke
I
Paetau-Robinson
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000662:veterinary*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*