Visceral fat and arterial stiffness in youth with healthy weight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Summary Background and objectives Visceral fat is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in adults, but studies in youth are limited. We assessed associations between visceral fat and arterial stiffness in youth with healthy weight, obesity and type 2 diabetes and determined whether relationships were independent of clinical estimates of body fatness. Methods This cross‐sectional sample included youth ages 10–23 years (67% female, 56% non‐black) with healthy weight (body mass index [BMI] = 5th–85th percentile, n = 236), obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile, n = 224) and type 2 diabetes (BMI ≥ 95th percentile, n = 145). Visceral fat was assessed via dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was assessed via applanation tonometry. Obesity and type 2 diabetes groups were combined for final analyses. Analyses accounted for age, sex, ancestry and mean arterial pressure. Results Visceral fat and PWV were greater in youth with obesity versus healthy weight (p < 0.001). In youth with obesity, but not healthy weight, visceral fat was positively associated with PWV (p < 0.001) and was predictive of PWV beyond BMI and waist circumference. Conclusions Visceral fat likely contributes to subclinical cardiovascular complications in youth. Since cardiovascular health tracks from adolescence to adulthood, longitudinal studies in youth with obesity are required to define the role of visceral fat in lifelong cardiovascular disease risk.

Sex‐specific difference in the relationship between body fat percentage and arterial stiffness: Results from Fuzhou study

“…Simon et al. also discovered that PWV was higher in youth with obesity versus those with normal weight 24 . Justin and colleagues showed that obesity in early life accelerates the development of early vascular aging 23 .…”

“…Our present study showed that cfPWV increased with the increasing trend of BFP, a reliable marker for obesity, and BFP is one of important independent risk factor of arterial stiffness, which is consist with some previous studies. Many researchers have demonstrated that obesity is a vital influence factor for arterial stiffness either in adults or in youth 15,22–24 . Maria and colleges found that BMI is independent parameters associated with cfPWV and revealed that prepubescent children with obesity who were shown to be metabolically healthy presented with arterial stiffness 22 .…”

“…22 Simon et al also discovered that PWV was higher in youth with obesity versus those with normal weight. 24 Justin and colleagues showed that obesity in early life accelerates the development of early vascular aging. 23 Flavia et al demonstrated that BFP is directly associated with arterial stiffness in long-lived people.…”

“…15,[22][23][24] Maria TA B L E 2 Abbreviations: BFP, body fat percentage; BMI, body mass index; cfPWV, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; eGFR, estimate glomerular filtration rate; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; HbA1c, glycosylated hemoglobin; Hcy, homocysteine; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HR, heart rate; SBP, systolic blood pressure; TG, triglyceride; UA, uric acid.…”

Obesity in adolescents associated with vascular aging – a study using ultra-high-resolution ultrasound

“…Furthermore, the significant group difference in radial I/M ratio remained after adjustments including BMI, but not after adjustment including SAD/height. Thus, our results are in line with results in a recent report on obesity in adolescents, in which visceral fat as assessed by DEXA was significantly correlated with the cardiovascular risk marker pulse wave velocity (PWV) ( 26 ), both reports supporting that visceral fat mass is more harmful to cardiovascular health than subcutaneous fat.…”