The effect of daily walking on body fat distribution was investigated using an electronic pedometer and ultrasonography. Subjects were 77 women, aged 31 to 72 years. They were divided into four groups according to the average number of steps they walked per day(I<7, 500, 7, 500≤II<10, 000, 10, 000≤III<12, 500, 12, 500≤IV). Subcutaneous fat in the trunk and limbs, and the minimum thickness of subcutaneous fat(Smin) and the maximum thickness of preperitoneal fat(Pmax) below the xiphoid process were measured by ultrasonography. Abdominal wall fat index (AFI) reflecting the intra−abdominal fat accumulation was obtained by dividing Pmax by Smin. Fat distribution was analyzed by ANCOVA, controlled for age, body mass index(BMI), percent body fat, and menopausal status. Energy and macronutrient intake were obtained through a nutritional survey. There were no significant differences in anthropometric variables, energy and macronutrient intake, and subcutaneous fat thickness in trunk and limbs. Pmax of Group I was significantly higher than Group IV. Furthermore. Group I showed significantly higher AFI than the other three Groups (II, III, IV). The results of this study suggested that women who walked less than 7, 500 steps per day tend to have significantly increased intra−abdominal fat accumulation.
Fatty acid glycerol esters ; Group I ; Walking ; Roman Numeral IV ; Amniotic Fluid Index

OBJECTIVES: Leptin is a 16-kD protein encoded by the ob/ob gene and represent the amount of body fat. In pregnancy, it is thought to act in intrauterine fetal growth and energy metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effect of gestational age, fetal sex, maternal body mass index (BMI), and fetal weight estimated by ultrasound on amniotic fluid and maternal serum leptin levels at mid-trimester, respectively. METHODS: Amniotic fluid and maternal blood sampling were collected from women who was performed for genetic amniocentesis at mid-trimester (n = 26). Leptin concentrations were measured by a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) employing human recombinant leptin. Mean gestational age was 18.19+/-1.77 weeks. Mean maternal BMI was 23.83 +/-5.12kg/m2. Male fetus was 10, and female 16. Mean fetal weight estimated by ultrasound was 254.42+/-83.80gm. RESULTS: Mean maternal leptin level( 12.49+/-4.46 ng/mL) was significantly higher than mean amniotic leptin level(5.06+/-3.20 ng/mL)( p = 0.0001) at mid-trimester. But there was no significant correlationship between maternal and amniotic leptin levels( p = 0.1376). Maternal leptin concentrations at mid-trimester were correlated positively with maternal BMI(y = 2.24 + 0.43 x, R2 = 0.494, p = 0.0103). In contrast, leptin levels in amniotic fluid did not correlate with maternal leptin levels, gestational age, fetal sex, maternal BMI, and fetal weight estimated by ultrasound respectively. CONCLUSION: Maternal leptin level was higher than amniotic leptin level and could represent maternal fat mass. It was suggested that amniotic leptin level was not associated with several factors such as maternal, fetal, and amniotic factors.
Adipose Tissue ; Amniocentesis ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Body Mass Index ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Weight* ; Fetus ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Leptin* ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay ; Ultrasonography*