Quantification of body fat distribution in the abdomen using computed tomography

Abstract

A computed tomographic method was used to assess the pattern of abdominal fat distribution in normal males and females at different abdominal levels. The method permitted site specific calculations of total body volume (TA), total fat volume (TF), subcutaneous fat volume (SF), and intraabdominal fat volume (IF) in each computed tomography scan. The ratio of TF/TA, SF/TF and IF/TF were calculated for the L1, L3, and L5 vertebral levels. Regression analysis of IF versus SF, SF versus TF, IF versus TF, TF versus TA, and TF versus body mass index and age were calculated. A significant linear correlation between the measured variables TA, SF, IF, and TF and between TF and body mass index was found for virtually all correlations attempted at all scanned levels. Females had a higher total fat volume and greater percentage of subcutaneous fat at all levels. Males accumulated more fat intraabdominally than subcutaneously at the L1 and L3 levels. The male-female differences were greatest at L1 and the ratio SF/IF statistically significant at the L1 and L5 levels. Our results demonstrate that computed tomography can noninvasively quantify abdominal fat distribution at various sites. There is an inherent difference in abdominal fat distribution between males and females that is not related to weight. The distribution of body fat in males and females varies markedly from level to level.

The Effect of Fasting Month of Ramadan on the Abdominal Fat Distribution: Assessment by Computed Tomography

“…Although anthropometric measurements, such as skin fold thickness or circumferences of different body segments and waist-to-hip circumference ratio are simple and useful indicators of visceral fat accumulation, these indices are not always accurate (Grauer et al 1984;Ashwell et al 1985;Enzi et al 1986;Kvist et al1986;Shuman et al 1986;Kooy and Seidell 1993;Keller et al 1999;Yoshizumi et al 1999). CT determination of adipose tissue is the most direct method has made possible the discrimination between adipose tissue located subcutaneous and visceral compartment, an exercise which was not possible with conventional anthropometric techniques (Dixon 1983;Grauer et al 1984;Ashwell et al 1985;Enzi et al 1986;Kvist et al 1986;Shuman et al 1986;Seidell et al 1990;Stallone et al 1991;Kooy and Seidell 1993;Keller et al 1999;Lemieux et al 1999;Yoshizumi et al 1999;Kobayashi et al 2002). The other radiological techniques used to determine the abdominal fat distribution are ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Seidell et al 1990;Kooy and Seidell 1993;Suzuki et al 1993;Yoshizumi et al 1999).…”

“…The documentation of fat distribution in various disease states depended in the past on anthropometric measurements of body circumferences or measurements of skin fold thicknesses (Grauer et al 1984;Ashwell et al 1985;Enzi et al 1986;Kvist et al 1986;Shuman et al 1986;Kooy and Seidell 1993;Keller et al 1999;Yoshizumi et al 1999). However, abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness is a poor predictor of total abdominal fat because it is unrelated to the amount of intraabdominal fat (Enzi et al 1986;Shuman et al 1986;Kooy and Seidell 1993).…”

“…capability which makes possible the accurate quantification of subcutaneous fat, of previously immeasurable fat in the internal body compartments (Grauer et al 1984;Ashwell et al 1985;Shuman et al 1986;Seidell et al 1990;Stallone et al 1991;Kooy and Seidell 1993;Lemieux et al 1999;Yoshizumi et al 1999). CT is the "gold standard" technique for the accurate assessment of intra-abdominal fat (Keller et al 1999;Yoshizumi et al 1999).…”

Relationship between Visceral Fat and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: The Tanno and Sobetsu Study

“…Imaging was done at the end of expiration at the umbilical level. Tracing in cross-sectional images was done using a trackball; the total cross-sectional area was determined by automatic calculation of portions with a CT number of −200 to 1,000 Hounsfield units (HU) using the method of Grauer et al (25). In addition, portions with a CT number of −200 to −10 HU were separated as adipose tissue and their areas were automatically calculated.…”

Hyperuricemia as a Predictor of Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Matched Cohort Analysis

“…An index image was obtained before scanning, and the umbilicus to L4-5 level was identified [20] [21]. VFA at this level correlated extremely well with whole intra-abdominal fat content (r = 0.94).…”