VAT=TAAT‐SAAT: Innovative anthropometric model to predict visceral adipose tissue without resort to CT‐Scan or DXA

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate whether a combination of a selected but limited number of anthropometric measurements predicts visceral adipose tissue (VAT) better than other anthropometric measurements, without resort to medical imaging.HypothesisAbdominal anthropometric measurements are total abdominal adipose tissue indicators and global measures of VAT and SAAT (subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue). Therefore, subtracting the anthropometric measurement the more correlated possible with SAAT while being the least correlated possible with VAT, from the most correlated abdominal anthropometric measurement with VAT while being highly correlated with TAAT, may better predict VAT.Design and MethodsBMI participants' range was from 16.3 to 52.9 kg m−2. Anthropometric and abdominal adipose tissues data by computed tomography (CT-Scan) were available in 253 patients (18-78 years) (CHU Nord, Marseille) and used to develop the anthropometric VAT prediction models.ResultsSubtraction of proximal thigh circumference from waist circumference, adjusted to age and/or BMI, predicts better VAT (Women: VAT = 2.15 × Waist C − 3.63 × Proximal Thigh C + 1.46 × Age + 6.22 × BMI − 92.713; R2 = 0.836. Men: VAT = 6 × Waist C − 4.41 × proximal thigh C + 1.19 × Age − 213.65; R2 = 0.803) than the best single anthropometric measurement or the association of two anthropometric measurements highly correlated with VAT. Both multivariate models showed no collinearity problem. Selected models demonstrate high sensitivity (97.7% in women, 100% in men). Similar predictive abilities were observed in the validation sample (Women: R2 = 76%; Men: R2 = 70%). Bland and Altman method showed no systematic estimation error of VAT.ConclusionValidated in a large range of age and BMI, our results suggest the usefulness of the anthropometric selected models to predict VAT in Europides (South of France).

Anthropometrically‐predicted visceral adipose tissue and mortality among men and women in the third national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES III)

“…Although waist circumference is often considered an anthropometric proxy for VAT, it cannot differentiate VAT from the less deleterious subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in the abdomen (Despres, 2012; Ibrahim, 2010), and is more closely correlated to total body adipose tissue ( R 2 =0.85) than VAT ( R 2 =0.59) (Bouchard, 2007). Investigators have recently developed equations to predict VAT that simultaneously integrate various anthropometric dimensions such as body mass index (BMI) and circumferences of the waist and thigh to more accurately approximate measured VAT ( R 2 =0.80–0.84) (Eastwood et al, 2013; Neamat-Allah et al, 2014; Samouda et al, 2013). While larger waist circumference is a known predictor of premature mortality (Pischon et al, 2008), the VAT prediction equation has not been studied as a predictor of long-term health outcomes.…”

“…While larger waist circumference is a known predictor of premature mortality (Pischon et al, 2008), the VAT prediction equation has not been studied as a predictor of long-term health outcomes. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that VAT predicted with a validated anthropometric regression equation (i.e., apVAT) is associated with premature mortality among a large population-based sample of men and women of European descent living in the United States (Samouda et al, 2013). We also explored the discriminative capacity of apVAT versus BMI and waist circumference to prognosticate mortality.…”

Subtraction of subcutaneous fat to improve the prediction of visceral adiposity: exploring a new anthropometric track in overweight and obese youth

“…Our work was motivated by the fact that the classical anthropometric parameters usually used to predict VAT (such as Waist C or SAD) reflect in reality more TAAT (VAT + SAAT) than VAT (Figure ). In adults, our findings suggested the subtraction of proximal thigh circumference (Proximal Thigh C) from Waist C …”

“…In our previous study on adults, we showed that whenever we subtract a well correlated anthropometric measurement with subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT) while being the least correlated with VAT (given the fact that VAT had to be kept), from a well correlated anthropometric measurement with total abdominal adipose tissue (TAAT) which is the most correlated possible with VAT (with a view to keeping the maximal amount of VAT), we manage to predict VAT accurately in both men and women. We called this concept “VAT = TAAT − SAAT” . Our work was motivated by the fact that the classical anthropometric parameters usually used to predict VAT (such as Waist C or SAD) reflect in reality more TAAT (VAT + SAAT) than VAT (Figure ).…”

“…In this study, we sought to evaluate the most accurate anthropometric model predicting VAT in overweight and obese children, using various anthropometric measurements, the correlation between anthropometric measurements and different body fat compartments, especially by investigating the “VAT = TAAT − SAAT” concept …”