[Significance of ultrasound-measured visceral fat thickness in obesity]

Ultrasound examination is a simple, easily available method for the measurement of visceral fat thickness. According to the literature, visceral fat thickness correlates well with the computer tomographic determined "gold standard" values of visceral fat quantity, predicting cardiovascular risk of obesity. The probability of indicating the presence of two major risk factors of obesity, fatty liver and cardiovascular complications was investigated by ultrasound. Ultrasound measurement of visceral fat thickness and ultrasound liver attenuation were assessed in 201 patients and correlated with each other and with other parameters. Significant correlation (p<0.001) was found between visceral fat thickness and visceral fat area measured by bioimpedance examinations and body mass index, but no correlation existed between visceral fat thickness, liver ultrasound attenuation and serum lipid level. It was concluded, that presence of fatty liver disease is not certainly connected to the increase of abdominal fat.