Usefulness of Anthropometry and DXA in Predicting Intra‐abdominal Fat in Obese Men and Women

Abstract

To investigate the usefulness of anthropometry and DXA in predicting intra-abdominal fat (IAF) in obese men and women. Observational, cross sectional study of 22 women and 18 men with a body mass index of 30 or above. IAF from 20 cm above and 10 cm below the L4 to L5 intervertebral disc was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a reference method. Central abdominal fat was measured from the upper border of L2 to the lower border of L4 by DXA. Waist and hip circumferences were also measured. In obese women DXA, waist circumference and waist-hip ratio were equally well correlated with IAF (r = 0.74, 0.75, and 0.70, respectively). In obese men DXA was moderately correlated with IAF measured by MRI (r = 0.46), whereas waist circumference and waist-hip ratio were not significantly correlated with IAF. The prediction of IAF in obese subjects was highly dependent on sex more than in non-obese persons. Anthropometry and DXA were equally useful in obese women, whereas anthropometry had no predictive power and DXA was the only acceptable predictor of IAF in obese men.