Anthropometric or ultrasonic measurements in assessment of visceral fat? A comparative study

The main aim of the study (study 1) was to compare the accuracy of anthropometric and ultrasonic measurements in assessing the amount of visceral adipose tissue. An additional aim (study 2) was to verify ultrasound technique precision. Study 1: using computed tomography (CT) L4-L5 adipose tissue area as a gold standard we compared the accuracy of waist/hip circumference ratio, sagittal diameter and ultrasonic measurements of intra-abdominal depth in assessing the amount of visceral adipose tissue. Study 2: ultrasonic measurements of the intra-abdominal muscle-vertebra distance were made in triplicate by three different operators. In study 1, 24 volunteers were used; body mass index (BMI): 19-43. In study 2, 22 volunteers were used; BMI 20-42. In study 1, ultrasonic measurements of the abdominal depth correlated best with CT visceral adipose tissue area (r = 0.89 - 0.91). In study 2, inter-operator and intra-operator mean variation coefficients were about 7% and 5% respectively. We concluded that using a well standardized technique and properly trained operators, ultrasonic measurement of intra-abdominal depth is a valid method in assessing the amount of visceral adipose tissue.