Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a growing health problem associated with metabolic derangements and cardiovascular disease. Increasing evidence links the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) to these obesity related health risks in adults. Childhood obesity is associated with a lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease and poses a serious problem to future healthcare. In children there is much fewer data on the prevalence and gender differences of visceral obesity than in adults. This study aimed to provide an onset towards reference values for VAT in children 10-11 years of age. Methods: In a cross-sectional study performed in the Netherlands, healthy children of 10-11 years of age, were recruited from primary schools. Blood pressure and anthropometric data consisting of height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and BMI were measured. Body composition was measured using DXA, providing measures for bone mineral content, total fat mass (TFM), lean body mass (LBM) and VAT. Results: 217 children were eligible for this study. Girls appeared to have a greater TFM but lower VAT than boys, whereas boys had higher LBM. Moderate to strong correlations were found for WC and BMI with VAT. No significant relation to blood pressure was found. Discussion: This study shows gender specific VAT percentiles in 10-11 year old children as measured by DXA providing an onset for future reference values in children. Independent of BMI and WC, girls tend to have more TFM but less VAT than boys of equal age. The gender specific results correspond to findings in adults and stress the advantage of using DXA over BMI or WC.

Biography

Email: wouterverduin@gmail.com