OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of menarche age (MA) on obese status in late puberty (LP) and mid-life (ML) females.

METHODS2035 girls aged 16 to 18 years were selected from a Beijing Child and Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome (BCAMS) study, which was performed from April to October in 2004, as the LP study population. 479 women aged 41 to 52 years were from the Fetal Origin of Adult Disease (FOAD) cohort, which established in 1995 to 2001, as the ML study population. Based on the 25 and 75 percentile of MA of each population, all subjects of LP and ML were divided into early, middle, and late matured groups, respectively. Overweight and obesity were defined by Chinese age-, gender-specific BMI criteria for LP girls, and Chinese BMI criteria for ML women while central obesity was defined by the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) cutoff of 0.5. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the associations between MA and BMI, waist circumference (WC) and WHtR. The impact of early menarche on obese status in late life was estimated by odds ratio (OR) using logistic regression analyses.

RESULTSThe prevalence of overweight and obesity increased with the decrease of MA in both LP and ML population. When MA had a one-year advance, a 0.58 kg/m2 increase in BMI and a 1.1 cm increase in WC during LP, and a 0.35 kg/m2 increase in BMI and a 0.6 cm increase in WC during ML were observed. After adjustment for age, residence area and life style related variables, those who experienced earlier menarche were at higher risk of suffering from obesity in LP (OR :8.740, 95% CI: 3.653-20.911) and during ML (2.498, 1.145-5.453) when compared to those with later menarche. We also noticed that the risk increased for central obesity [LP: 14.280 (3.223-63. 267), ML: 15.604 (1.821-133.679)].

CONCLUSIONMenarche age appeared to be an independent predictor for obese status in LP and ML among women.

Adiposity ; physiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Menarche ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Puberty ; physiology ; Risk Factors

Children born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are more likely to exhibit congenital malformations, high birth weight, and obesity and have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later life. Children who are exposed to maternal diabetes in utero may be 'programmed' for later development of obesity at a critical period of development. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the associations among adiposity and systolic blood pressure in children and abnormal maternal glucose levels during pregnancy. A total of 856 mother-child pairs were included in the present retrospective study. Eligible pregnant women underwent a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks' gestation. Anthropometric characteristics of their children were measured at 6 years of age, including body mass index, the sum of subscapular and tricep skinfold thickness, and systolic blood pressure. The result suggests that children exposed to GDM have higher adiposity; prevention of childhood obesity needs to begin early in life for these children.
Adiposity ; physiology ; Aging ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes, Gestational ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity ; etiology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of exogenous fat (lard) on the bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometer (DXA) Hologic QDR 4500A in different sites in healthy women. METHODS: Lard packets (5 cm or 10 cm thick) were prepared. The lumbar spine (LS) DXA scans were performed on 37 women(Group A), who were repeated with lard packets (5 cm or 10 cm thick) placed over the abdomen, and the hip DXA scans were performed on 18 women(Group B), who were repeated with lard packets (5 cm or 10 cm thick) placed over the left thigh. Whole body DXA scans were performed on 8 women(Group C), who were repeated with 5 cm thick lard packets over the abdomen. The pair t-test was used to compare the value of BMD with and without lard. RESULTS: After lard was placed over abdomen, the bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), and BMD of the LS decreased significantly (P<0.001);at the hip, BA had no significant change, but the BMC and BMD of the neck, trochanter, and inter trochanter increased significantly (P<0.01~0.05). The BMD of the whole body had no significant change (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Lard impacted the BMD by DXA Hologic QDR 4500A, BMD of the LS significantly decreases, but BMD of the whole body has no significant change. BMD of the hip significantly increases with lard.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adiposity ; physiology ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Phantoms, Imaging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between the lumbar bone marrow fat and abdominal fat.

METHODSA total of 68 individuals (32 men and 36 women, aged 21-74 years with a median of 49.5 years) were included in this study. All the subjects underwent spectroscopic examination of the third lumber vertebra with the single voxel method on a 1.5T MR scanner to measure the fat fraction (FF%). Quantitative CT was also performed for measurement of the abdomen subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). The measurements were compared between subjects aged ≥50 years and those below 50 years, respectively,in male or female subjects.

RESULTSIn male subjects, BMI, FF%, VAT or SAT showed no significant differences between the two age groups (P>0.05), and FF% was not correlated with BMI, VAT or SAT (r=0.109, 0.034, 0.066, respectively; P>0.05). In the female subjects, BMI, FF%, VAT and SAT differed significantly between the two age groups (P<0.05), and in ≥50 years group, FF% showed a positive correlation with VAT (r=0.499, P<0.05) but was not correlated with SAT (r=0.221, P>0.05); in<50 years group, FF% was not correlated with VAT or SAT (r=0.076, -0.067, respectively; P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONFF% is positively correlated with VAT in female subjects aged beyond 50 years, but is not correlated with VAT or SAT in male subjects or in younger female subjects.

Adiposity ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; physiology ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Spine ; Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal ; physiology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Obesity is a major public health issue and is associated with many metabolic abnormalities. Consequently, the assessment of obesity is very important. A new measurement, the body adiposity index (BAI), has recently been proposed to provide valid estimates of body fat percentages. The objective of this study was to compare the BAI and body mass index (BMI) as measurements of body adiposity and metabolic risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis performed on Korean women. The weight, height, and hip circumferences of 2950 women (mean age 25+/-5 years old, 18-39 years) were measured, and their BMI and BAI [hip circumference (cm)/height (m)(1.5)-18] values were calculated. Bioelectric impedance analysis was used to evaluate body fat content. Glucose tolerance status was assessed with a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and insulin sensitivity was estimated with the insulin sensitivity index. RESULTS: BMI was more significantly correlated with fat mass and fat percentage. Additionally, BMI was also more significantly associated with metabolic parameters, including fasting glucose, post-load 2-h glucose, fasting insulin, post-load 2-h insulin, triglycerides, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol than BAI. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that BMI was a better tool for predicting body fat percentage than BAI. Insulin sensitivity and metabolic syndrome were more significantly associated with BMI than with BAI. CONCLUSION: In Korean women, the current BMI-based classifications for obesity might be superior to BAI-based measurements for determining obesity and predicting metabolic risk.
Adiposity/*physiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Composition/physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight/physiology ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Obesity/blood/*physiopathology ; Triglycerides/blood ; Waist Circumference/physiology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents was increasing during the past few decades. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of after-school exercise with or without diet restriction on total and central obesity, fitness level, and metabolic profile in overweight Chinese adolescents.

METHODSA ten-week weight loss trial was performed using a 2 × 2 block design (exercise × diet). Ninety-three overweight adolescents (average age: (13.6 ± 0.7) years; body mass index (BMI): 22.4 - 34.1 kg/m(2)) were randomly assigned to four groups: 1) diet (D); 2) exercise (EX); 3) diet plus exercise (DEX); and 4) overweight control (C). Caloric intake recipes were enacted based on individual age and corresponding ideal body weight. One-hour after-school exercise was performed once per day, four days per week for ten weeks. Changes of anthropometry, body composition, aerobic fitness, and metabolic biomarkers were determined.

RESULTSGroups D, EX and DEX had a significant decrease in BMI (P < 0.01) after the intervention. The percentage of body and truncal fat, and waist circumference were independently reduced by exercise (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), but not diet. The decrease in body fat percentage was positively related with the exercise compliance (r = 0.34, P = 0.01). Exercise decreased truncal fat percentage and waist circumference, suggesting a reduction of central adiposity, but did not significantly affect body weight and BMI. Exercise significantly reduced serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.037), which was positively correlated with decreases of truncal fat percentage (r = 0.222, P = 0.048). No significant effects of interventions on insulin sensitivity, early insulin release index, and aerobic fitness were observed.

CONCLUSIONAt least twice a week of one-hour after-school exercise significantly attenuated central adiposity and had a significant impact on lipid profiles in overweight Chinese adolescents.

Adiposity ; physiology ; Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Composition ; physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; physiology ; Child ; Exercise ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Overweight ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; therapy ; Waist Circumference

Although an inverse relationship between abdominal adiposity and pulmonary function has been suggested, direct measurement of abdominal adipose tissue has rarely been attempted. Our object is to determine the impact of abdominal adiposity on pulmonary function by directly measuring abdominal adipose tissue with abdominal computed tomography (CT). In this cross-sectional study, we included never-smokers between the ages of 18 and 85 yr, who had undergone spirometry and abdominal adipose tissue analysis with CT scans during November 1, 2005 to October 31, 2009 as part of the comprehensive health examination. Among a total of 3,469 participants, 890 (25.7%) were male. The mean body mass index and waist circumference among males and females were 24.6 kg/m2 and 87.8 cm and 23.0 kg/m2 and 83.0 cm, respectively. Although total adipose tissue (TAT) of the abdomen in males (269.1 cm2) was similar to that in females (273.6 cm2), the ratio of visceral adipose tissue (VAT)/subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was different; 0.99 in males and 0.50 in females. In males, TAT, SAT, and VAT were inversely associated with the absolute value of forced vital capacity (FVC), and TAT and VAT were inversely associated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). However, in females, TAT and VAT, but not SAT, were inversely associated with absolute FVC and FEV1 values. In conclusion, the amount of abdominal adipose tissue directly measured using CT is inversely associated with lung function.
*Adiposity ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat/*radiography ; Lung/*physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Smoking ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Although the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing, there are cases difficult to categorize into certain type in pediatric diabetic patients. The aims of this study were to detect and choose a proper treatment modality for atypical cases of diabetes mellitus, using the body composition chart. We conducted a retrospective study from August 2005 to 2012 with patients who visited Konkuk University Medical Center, and were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The medical records were reviewed for the anthropometric data and indices of body composition. The subjects were grouped by the type of diabetes and gender. We constructed a body composition chart plotting fat free mass index and fat mass index (FMI). Body mass index and all body composition indices were higher in type 2 diabetes, in each gender in analysis with Mann-Whitney test. Significant determinant of diabetes type was revealed as FMI and contributing factors on FMI were analyzed with regression analysis. Six atypical cases were identified by a body composition chart including non-obese type 2 diabetes showing suboptimal growth with lower BMI related to relatively lower insulin secretion and type 1 diabetes with insulin resistance resulted from obesity. Body composition chart analysis might be useful in characterization of diabetes type and detection of atypical cases and early adjustment of diabetes management strategy.
Adiposity ; Adolescent ; Body Composition/*physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/complications ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Statistics, Nonparametric

Although the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing, there are cases difficult to categorize into certain type in pediatric diabetic patients. The aims of this study were to detect and choose a proper treatment modality for atypical cases of diabetes mellitus, using the body composition chart. We conducted a retrospective study from August 2005 to 2012 with patients who visited Konkuk University Medical Center, and were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The medical records were reviewed for the anthropometric data and indices of body composition. The subjects were grouped by the type of diabetes and gender. We constructed a body composition chart plotting fat free mass index and fat mass index (FMI). Body mass index and all body composition indices were higher in type 2 diabetes, in each gender in analysis with Mann-Whitney test. Significant determinant of diabetes type was revealed as FMI and contributing factors on FMI were analyzed with regression analysis. Six atypical cases were identified by a body composition chart including non-obese type 2 diabetes showing suboptimal growth with lower BMI related to relatively lower insulin secretion and type 1 diabetes with insulin resistance resulted from obesity. Body composition chart analysis might be useful in characterization of diabetes type and detection of atypical cases and early adjustment of diabetes management strategy.
Adiposity ; Adolescent ; Body Composition/*physiology ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/complications ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Statistics, Nonparametric

Associations between body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), and health risks differ between Asian and European populations. BMI is commonly used to diagnose obesity; however, its accuracy in detecting adiposity in Koreans is unknown. The present cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the accuracy of BMI in determining BF%-defined obesity in 6,017 subjects (age 20-69 yr, 43.6% men) from the 2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We assessed the diagnostic performance of BMI using the Western Pacific Regional Office of World Health Organization reference standard for BF%-defined obesity by sex and age and identified the optimal BMI cut-off for BF%-defined obesity using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. BMI-defined obesity (> or =25 kg/m2) was observed in 38.7% of men and 28.1% of women, with a high specificity (89%, men; 84%, women) but poor sensitivity (56%, men; 72% women) for BF%-defined obesity (25.2%, men; 31.1%, women). The optimal BMI cut-off (24.2 kg/m2) had 78% sensitivity and 71% specificity. BMI demonstrated limited diagnostic accuracy for adiposity in Korea. There was a -1.3 kg/m2 difference in optimal BMI cut-offs between Korea and America, smaller than the 5-unit difference between the Western Pacific Regional Office and global World Health Organization obesity criteria.
Adipose Tissue/*physiology ; Adiposity/*physiology ; Adult ; Aged ; *Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity/*diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Reference Standards ; Republic of Korea ; Young Adult