title: Sonographically Assessed Intra-Abdominal Fat And Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adolescents with Extreme Obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The metabolic and cardiovascular risk of obesity is predominantly defined through the amount of intra-abdominal fat (IAF). Regarding this risk and the benefits of weight reduction gender-specific differences have been described. The aim of this study was to examine the gender-specific relationship between IAF assessed via ultrasound and the cardiometabolic risk profile in extremely obese adolescents before and after weight loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 107 consecutively admitted adolescents (n = 59 girls, mean age 15.4 ± 2.6 years boys and 15.1 ± 2.1 years girls, mean BMI z-score 3.2 ± 0.6 boys and 3.5 ± 0.6 girls) anthropometric and fasting laboratory chemical parameters were measured before and after an in-patient long-term therapy (mean durance 5.6 ± 2.3 months). IAF was determined by measuring the intra-abdominal depth (IAD) via ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IAD was higher in boys as compared to girls (58.0 ± 22.4 mm vs. 51.3 ± 16.0 mm). IAD values were positively associated with BMI-z scores, waist circumferences, HOMA-IR and serum levels of x03B3;GT, hs-CRP and IL-6 in both genders. In boys, but not in girls, IAD was significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum levels of triglycerides, ALT as well as adiponectin and HDL-cholesterol. After a marked mean weight loss of -27.1 ± 16.2 kg (-20.1 ± 7.9%) in boys and of -20.5 ± 11.5 kg (-17.3 ± 7.1%) in girls, IAD decreased by -20.7 ± 16.2 mm (--32.4 ± 16.9%) in boys and by -18.4 ± 12,7 mm (-34.3 ± 18.4%) in girls, resulting in more pronounced ameliorations of cardiovascular risk factors in boys than in girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that IAF assessed by ultrasound is a good indicator for the cardiometabolic risk factor profile in extremely obese adolescents. Associations between IAF and risk factors are more pronounced in boys than in girls.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Kolja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sievert
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Siegfried
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siegfried
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wabitsch
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014280:Triglycerides