Abstract
AimsTo study the associations between fat distribution and lung functions in healthy subjects of young adults and to explore potential gender difference in these correlations.MethodsA total of 2101 adult participants were recruited. Height, weight, and vital capacity index (VCI) were measured and recorded according to the national physical fitness test standard. Body compositions, including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fat-free mass (FFM), trunk muscle mass (TMM), fat mass (FM), visceral fat area (VFA), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), were conducted using body composition analyzer. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software.ResultsWe found that male participants showed significantly higher BMI, WHR, FFM, TMM, VFA, and VCI, but lower FM, BFP, and SAT in comparison with women. However, there was no significant difference in VAT between the male and female. Lung functions represented by VCI were negatively correlated with FM, VAT, SAT, and VFA for both men and women (r < 0; P < 0.05). Among these negative correlations, VCI was more inversely correlated with VFA for men but with SAT for women, respectively. After dividing the whole populations by BMI, BFP, and WHR, further correlation analysis showed VCI was still more negatively correlated with VFA for all male subgroups (r < 0; P < 0.05). On the contrary, VCI was more negatively correlated with SAT in BMI-underweight, BMI-normal, BFP-low fat, BFP-normal fat, WHR-normal, and WHR-obese subgroups (r < 0; P < 0.05), while VFA and VAT was more inversely correlated with VCI in BMI- and BFP-overweight+obese subgroups (r < 0; P < 0.05).ConclusionsFat accumulation is highly associated with the vital capacity index in young adults. In general, VCI was more negatively correlated with VFA for men but with SAT for women, respectively, in comparison with other tested indices.
Highlights
Abdominal fat distribution has been associated with increased risk of different diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease [1, 2]
Body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) that is commonly used to define overweight or obesity has been negatively associated with lung functions evaluated by vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC) [9, 10]
Increased waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body fat percentage (BFP) that are used to measure body fat distribution have been linked to impaired lung functions, which is suggestive of the essential roles of fat accumulation in lung functions [9,10,11,12,13,14]
Summary
Abdominal fat distribution has been associated with increased risk of different diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease [1, 2]. Previous studies have suggested that obesity is associated with impaired respiratory functions, including reduction in total lung capacity and forced vital capacity [5,6,7]. Increased waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body fat percentage (BFP) that are used to measure body fat distribution have been linked to impaired lung functions, which is suggestive of the essential roles of fat accumulation in lung functions [9,10,11,12,13,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
