Effect of weight loss on regional body fat distribution in premenopausal women

This study evaluates effects of weight loss on regional fat distribution and compares waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and computed tomography (CT) as methods of assessing body fat distribution in 16 premenopausal obese women (body weight 104.3 +/- 18.1 kg, WHR 0.84 +/- 0.08). Mean weight loss was 6.6 kg after 2 wk on a very-low-energy diet (VLED) and 16 kg after 14 additional weeks on a low-energy diet (LED). Visceral abdominal fat and sagittal diameter significantly decreased after both the VLED and LED. Subcutaneous abdominal fat decreased significantly only after the LED. WHR showed no significant reduction over the entire study period. The decrease in visceral fat after both the VLED and LED was greater than the decrease in subcutaneous fat. Changes in body weight over the entire study period correlated with initial body weight and with total and subcutaneous abdominal fat, but not with visceral abdominal fat. They also correlated with changes in subcutaneous abdominal fat, visceral abdominal fat, sagittal diameter, and WHR. In conclusion, weight loss is associated with changes in regional fat distribution. In premenopausal subjects weight loss correlates more closely with the amount of subcutaneous than visceral fat.