Fat patterning during weight reduction: a multimode investigation

Changes in body composition during weight reduction of 20 obese women were quantified by anthropometry (weight, waist and hip circumferences, skinfold thicknesses determined with a skinfold caliper and ultrasonically), densitometry (hydrostatic weighing), tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance (TBI) and computed tomography (CT scan of abdomen and thorax). The average reduction in mean weight (92.7 kg), induced by an energy restricted diet over a period of 12 wk was 5.6 kg (5.8%). Fat areas were calculated from the CT scans of the thorax; intra-abdominal fat and subcutaneous fat were separately calculated from the abdominal CT scans. Anthropometric and CT fat values were found to decrease significantly during weight reduction, whereas the percentages of body fat as determined by densitometry and TBI did not. The relative deposition of intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat of 19 women did not essentially change after weight reduction. One woman, who had a relatively large intra-abdominal fat accumulation, lost more subcutaneous fat than intra-abdominal fat. It is concluded that in general fat patterning does not change during weight reduction.