Comparison of Visceral Adiposity and Obesity Parameters in Caucasian and Hispanic Adults

Abstract

Abdominal adiposity can be classified generally as total, subcutaneous, and visceral. The distribution of these fat depots is important, as visceral adiposity is a better indicator of adverse health risks than subcutaneous adiposity. Yet the bulkiness and high costs associated with current detection devices limit their use in field settings. This study determined central obesity parameters via a three‐dimensional stereovision body imaging (SBI), an inexpensive, portable method of fat assessment. 121 Caucasian and Hispanic adults were measured for anthropometrics, abdominal adiposity volumes by magnetic resonance imaging; and body circumferences and central obesity by SBI. The Hispanic women had the highest amount of total abdominal and subcutaneous adiposity. Conversely, Caucasian men had the lowest depots of total abdominal and subcutaneous adiposity, but greater visceral adiposity. Central obesity depth (Caucasian r=0.83 and Hispanic r=0.78 women; Caucasian r=0.76 and Hispanic r=0.52 men) and the ratio of central obesity depth and width (Caucasian r=0.81 and Hispanic r=0.75 women; Caucasian r=0.88 and Hispanic r=0.65 men) were the most reliable parameters that exhibited a significantly positive association with visceral adiposity. These results suggest that SBI is an effective means to evaluate central adiposity in clinical settings in diverse populations. NIH 3R21DK081206–02S1.