Predictive Value Of Fat And Fat Distribution For Metabolic Risks In Normal Weight Chinese

Objective:To investigate the effect of body fat and fat distribution in predicting metabolic risks in body mass index (BMI) defined normal weight Chinese subjects.Methods:529(men:203; women:326) normal weight subjects (BMI:18.5-23.9kg/m2) aged18-79years old were analyzed in the study. BMI, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose were measured. Percent fat mass (%BF), percent trunk fat mass (%TF), android fat mass(FM), and gynoid FM were measured using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Central fat distribution was assessed by%TF and android to gynoid FM ratio (AOI). Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between adiposity indices with metabolic risks and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to compare the predictive values of%BF, WC, waist-to-height ratio (WHR),%TF, and AOI to metabolic risks.Results:In present study,11.4%and16.9%normal weight men and women, respectively, had the metabolic syndrome, according to definition by the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (2005). After adjusted for BMI,%BF, WC,%TF, and AOI in men,%TF and AOI in women, were significantly associated with at least two metabolic risks. ROC analyses showed areas under the curves in%BF, WC, WHR,%TF and AOI for at least two metabolic risks were comparable in men. However, areas in%TF and AOI were significantly larger than those in BMI, WC and%BF in women.Conclusion:Both body fat and fat distribution was associated with metabolic risks in normal weight men. In women, fat distribution was significantly related with metabolic risks, and DXA-derived%TF and AOI, are better than WC in predicting metabolic risks.