Sex differences in lean and adipose tissue distribution by magnetic resonance imaging: anthropometric relationships

This study compared total and regional adipose tissue (AT) and lean tissue (LT) distribution measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in obese, android women (n = 40) and mean (n = 17). Women had significantly (P < 0.01) greater subcutaneous AT (39.6 +/- 11.6 vs 30.7 +/- 7.5 L) but significantly (P < 0.01) less visceral AT (2.5 +/- 1.1 vs 4.8 +/- 2.1 L) and LT (42.8 +/- 4.7 vs 58.2 +/- 6.2 L) compared with men. Segmentation of the visceral AT volume demonstrated that women had significantly (P < 0.01) less intraperitoneal (1.98 +/- 0.84 vs 3.74 +/- 1.61 L) and extraperitoneal AT (0.51 +/- 0.23 vs 1.04 +/- 0.47 L). When the legs, hip and pelvic region, and abdomen and torso regions were compared, women had significantly greater absolute quantities of subcutaneous AT and significantly less LT in all regions (P < 0.01); however, in all regions the relative distribution of both was similar. Anthropometric prediction of MRI-measured total AT gave SEs of 7.7% for women and 7.5% for men, for visceral AT 30% for women and 19% for men. Anthropometric prediction of LT gave SEs of 6.5% for women and 3.6% for men.