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Intra-abdominal adipose tissue in young children
M I Goran1, M Kaskoun, W P Shuman
1Department of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405, USA.
Insights
Intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) exists in young children. Trunk skinfold measurements better indicate IAAT than waist-to-hip ratio in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Body Composition Analysis
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) is linked to metabolic issues in obesity.
- Direct measurement of IAAT is challenging, hindering understanding of its development over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm the presence of IAAT in young children using computed tomography (CT) imaging.
- To investigate the relationship between IAAT and anthropometric measurements in healthy children.
Main Methods:
- CT imaging was used for direct measurement of IAAT.
- Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance.
- Fat distribution was evaluated using skinfold measurements and ratios (trunk:extremity, waist:hip).
Main Results:
- IAAT was directly measured in 16 healthy children (mean age 6.4 years).
- IAAT showed significant correlations with body weight, fat mass, and skinfold measurements.
- The trunk to extremity skinfold ratio was a better indicator of IAAT than the waist:hip ratio.
Conclusions:
- This study provides evidence for IAAT in young children.
- Trunk skinfold measurements are more indicative of IAAT in children than waist-to-hip ratio.
- The association between IAAT and anthropometry in children is complex, similar to adults.
Objective:
Intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) is associated with the metabolic complications of obesity. However the time course for the development of IAAT is not clearly defined because it is generally difficult to measure directly. The purposes of this short communication are to present data supporting the existence of IAAT in young children using direct measurement with computed tomography imaging, and to examine the relationship between IAAT and anthropometric indices in 16 healthy children (6.4 +/- 1.2 years; 24.8 +/- 5.4 kg).
Design:
Total body fat (6.4 +/- 3.5 kg) and fat free mass (18.4 +/- 3.6 kg) were determined by bioelectrical resistance. Fat distribution was estimated from eight individual skinfold measurements, the ratio of three trunk skinfolds to three extremity skinfolds (0.78 +/- 0.20), and the waist:hip ratio (0.90 +/- 0.08).
Results:
Mean abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) was 65.3 +/- 44.8 cm2, and mean IAAT was 8.3 +/- 5.8 cm2. The ratio of IAAT to SCAT was 0.15 +/- 0.08, and the ratio of IAAT to total body fat was 1.44 +/- 0.84 cm2/kg. IAAT was significantly correlated with body weight (r = 0.54; P = 0.03), all skinfold measures (range r = 0.60-0.78; P = 0.02 to 0.0003) except at the calf, fat mass (r = 0.69; P = 0.003), and the trunk to extremity skinfold ratio (r = 0.78; P = 0.0003). There was no significant correlation between IAAT and the waist:hip ratio (r = 0.21).
Conclusions:
These preliminary results establish the existence of IAAT in young children and suggest that individual trunk skinfold measurements and the trunk:extremity skinfold ratio provide a better indication of IAAT compared to the waist:hip ratio. However, as with adults, the relationship between intra-abdominal adipose tissue and anthropometry in children is complex.