Consistency of Ultrasound Measurements of Fat Thickness in Different Postures

Ultrasound has been used in the field of clinical nutrition to measure body composition. However, the consistency of these measurements varies across studies, and the impact of examination posture remains largely unexplored, creating a critical methodological gap in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the consistency of ultrasonic measurement of fat thickness (FT) and evaluate the impact of posture on these measurements.

FT was measured at 10 body sites in routine and special postures using ultrasound to determine intra-observer and inter-observer consistency and to assess the impact of different postures on FT measurements. Body fat mass (BFM) was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and subcutaneous skinfold thickness was measured with calipers for correlation analysis.

Results revealed significant sex differences in BFM (P<0.05) and FT at most sites (P<0.001), with women exhibiting thicker fat measurements. High intra-observer and inter-observer consistency was demonstrated in special examination postures (intraclass correlation coefficients were both ≥0.925). Posterior upper arm FT measured in the sitting posture was greater than that measured in the prone posture (P<0.001) while there was no significant difference in subscapular FT between the two postures (P = 0.289). There were significant differences in posterior lower leg FT among the four postures (P<0.001). Positive correlations were observed between FT and skinfold at site 5 (abdominal subcutaneous fat), site 7 (posterior upper arm), and site 8 (subscapular) (r = 0.921, 0.878, 0.882, P<0.01).

Ultrasound measurements of FT have proven reliable, offering advantages in cost, ease, accuracy, and scalability. The findings highlight the importance of posture in ultrasound measurement of FT, which may influence clinical practice and research protocols. The limitations of the study mainly lie in the narrow age and BMI ranges of the sample, which restrict the generalizability of the research findings.

This study provides a comprehensive evidence base for posture-specific ultrasound protocols in fat thickness measurement. Our results demonstrate that ultrasound is a reliable method for measuring fat thickness, exhibiting good to excellent inter-observer and intra-observer consistency. The impact of body posture on fat thickness measurements varies by anatomical location. Strong correlations were found between ultrasound measurements and skinfold thickness at subcutaneous sites, confirming the validity of ultrasound for fat thickness assessment.