CAN HIP AND WAIST CIRCUMFERENCES PREDICT HABITUAL EXERCISERS?? ABDOMINAL VISCERAL FAT VOLUME ?

Abstract

Many studies have used waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) to predict abdominal fat distribution. However, most of these studies have focused on the general population. PURPOSE To determine whether abdominal fat distribution can be predicted by body circumferences, and to understand the relationship between abdominal visceral fat volume and leptin. METHODS Thirty-four (age 33.8 ± 13.2 years, body mass index 23.3 ± 2.3 kg/m2) individuals who had been regular joggers, swimmers and weight lifters for more than 5 years served as the subjects. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to determine abdominal fat volume distribution. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for leptin. The WC and HC were gauged by a non-elastic ruler. RESULTS The subjects' abdominal fat volume, WC, HC, waist and hip ratio (WHR) and leptin were 0.66±0.41 L, 79.3±4.8 cm, 94.0 ±4.3 cm, 0.84±0.1, and 1.99 ±0.92 ug/L respectively. Abdominal visceral fat volume was significantly correlated with WHR, WC and leptin (0.68, 0.62, 0.64 respectively, p < 0.01). Using stepwise regression, WHC could explain 47% the variance of the abdominal fat volume. When leptin was added to the equation, the variance explanation could reach 60%. CONCLUSION The waist and hip circumference can predict the visceral fat volume of people who exercise regularly; leptin alos plays a minor role. Supported in part by grant NSC 90-2413-H-003-055, TAIWAN