Estimation of visceral fat area using criteria for metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background and aimsThe aim of this study was to calculate the visceral fat area (VFA) based on the criteria for metabolic syndrome (MetS). MethodsA multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the estimated VFA using data from Japanese participants (2315 men and 1684 women). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses were performed to determine the optimal estimated VFA cutoff for the diagnosis of central obesity. The cutoff was also applied to a second cohort to validate the model. ResultsThe estimated VFA was calculated using the MetS criteria, age, and body mass index (adjusted coefficient of determination = 0.682 for men and 0.726 for women). The area under the ROC curve for waist circumference, VFA, and estimated VFA were 0.669, 0.741, and 0.749, respectively, for men and 0.711, 0.787, and 0.803, respectively, for women. The optimal cutoffs for estimated VFA were 128.1 cm2 for men and 82.2 cm2 for women. Multivariate logistic regression for heart disease revealed that estimated VFA, rather than waist circumference, was associated with a high risk of heart disease. ConclusionThe estimated VFA is a better index of central obesity than waist circumference and VFA for the diagnosis of MetS.