Anthropometrical measurements and maternal visceral fat during first half of pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Determining anthropometric measures that indicate different fat deposits can be useful to predict metabolic risk and set specific treatment goals, reducing negative consequences for maternal and fetal health. In cases where pre-gestational weight measure and subsequent body mass index (BMI) values cannot be determined, other anthropometric measurements may be ideal for measuring the nutritional status of pregnant women, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to identify which anthropometric measurements correlate better with the maternal fat deposits measured by ultrasound. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with pregnant women from the city of Porto Alegre (city), capital of Rio Grande do Sul (state), southern Brazil, from October 2016 until January 2018. Anthropometrical variables (weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference [MUAC], circumferences of calf and neck and triceps skinfolds [TSF] and subscapular skinfolds [SBSF]), and ultrasound variables (visceral adipose tissue [VAT] and total adipose tissue [TAT]) were collected. To verify the correlation of anthropometric and ultrasound measurements, a non-adjusted and adjusted Spearman correlation was used. The study was approved by the ethics committees.Results: The age median of the 149 pregnant women was 25 years [21 - 31], pre-pregnancy BMI was 26.22kg/m² [22.16 – 31.21] and gestational age was 16.2 weeks [13.05 – 18.10]. The best measurements correlated with VAT and TAT were MUAC and SBSF, both of which showed a higher correlation than pre-pregnancy BMI.Conclusion: It is possible to provide a practical and reliable estimate of VAT and TAT from the anthropometric evaluation (MUAC or SBSF) that is low cost, efficient and replicable in an outpatient clinic environment, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Mid upper arm circumference as screening tool of overweight or obesity among adult employees of Mizan Tepi University, Southwest Ethiopia

“…The study conducted in Japan stated that MUAC is a cheap and easily measurable tool to assess overweight or obesity than BMI [ 51 ]. The screening ability of MUAC could be due to the fact that MUAC has a positive strong correlation with arm fat mass and total fat mass [ 51 , 52 ] and it also used to assess subcutaneous fat accumulation [ 53 ].…”

Impact of quality of life on nutritional risk and malnutrition: a cross-sectional study in elderly patients

“…Calf circumference values were recorded as the average of the measurements from two trials for each leg, which were averaged again to get the overall measurement (16). Forearm circumference (mid-upper arm circumference) was measured at the midpoint between the acromion and olecranon bones while the arm was angled 90° at the elbow (17). For the measurement of triceps skinfold thickness, while the patients were standing and the arms were free at both sides, the arms were angled 90°, and the midpoint between the shoulder and the acromion was marked with a pencil.…”