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Measurement of visceral adipose tissue by DXA combined with anthropometry in obese humans

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 263–270 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To get accurate measurements of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

DESIGN: DXA and anthropometric data and their combinations were compared to the VAT area calculated from a computed tomography (CT) single scan.

SUBJECTS: 71 overweight subjects (44 women, 27 men), age: 16–70 y, BMI: 27–52 kg/m2.

MEASUREMENTS: Total body and segmental tissue composition, and new parameters obtained from DXA, in addition to waist and hip cicumferences and abdominal sagittal diameter measurements.

RESULTS: The ratio measured at the umbilical level (sagittal diameter−subcutaneous fat width)×(transverse internal diameter)/(height) was closely related to VAT (r=0.94 for women and 0.88 for men). It gave the most predictive equation for VAT: y=79.6x (s.e. 3.9)−149 cm2 for the whole population (r2=0.86, P<0.0001, root mean square error=38.2 cm2. An independent relationship between lean mass or its index (r=0.52 and 0.72, P<0.001) and VAT was also found in women.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the potential usefulness of DXA to supply accurate measurements of VAT in addition to total body composition determination in obese subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Diabetology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, of Radiology, and of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Reims Cedex, 51092, France

    E Bertin, C Marcus, J-P Eschard & M Leutenegger

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Cochin University Hospital, Paris, 75014, France

    J-C Ruiz

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  1. E Bertin
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  2. C Marcus
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Correspondence to E Bertin.

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Bertin, E., Marcus, C., Ruiz, JC. et al. Measurement of visceral adipose tissue by DXA combined with anthropometry in obese humans. Int J Obes 24, 263–270 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801121

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