Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Abdominal obesity and mortality: The Pennington Center Longitudinal Study
P T Katzmarzyk1, E Mire, C Bouchard
1Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Nutrition & Diabetes
|November 22, 2012
Summary
Visceral adipose tissue (VAT), or belly fat, is linked to a higher risk of death from any cause. Reducing abdominal VAT may be a key strategy for improving health and longevity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Metabolic Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation is a hallmark of obesity.
- The association between VAT and all-cause mortality requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and all-cause mortality.
- To assess the impact of other lifestyle factors on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 1089 white men and women (18-84 years).
- Abdominal VAT measured using computed tomography at L4-L5.
- Mortality data collected through December 2009, with an average follow-up of 9.1 years.
Main Results:
- Abdominal VAT was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR 1.46).
- This association strengthened after adjusting for covariates like SAT, smoking, alcohol, and physical activity (HR 1.74).
- Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was not independently associated with mortality.
Conclusions:
- Abdominal VAT is a significant predictor of all-cause mortality.
- Targeting abdominal VAT reduction may be a crucial therapeutic strategy for obesity management.
- Further research should explore the clinical implications of VAT measurement in mortality risk assessment.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
01:25Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
01:20Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
01:26Longitudinal Studies
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...