The Evaluation of Simple Indices of Abdominal Visceral Fat Area Among Korean Obese Adolescents

비만 청소년에서 복부 내장지방량을 반영하는 비만지표에 대한 연구

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine what is useful index of abdominal visceral fat area among Korean obese adolescents. Methods : 35 obese adolescents who had visited Kirin Oriental Hospital from August 2004 to May 2006 were included in the study. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Abdominal visceral fat areas at L4-5 level were measured by computed tomography. The subjects were divided into two groups, according to sex. In each group, we investigated the correlation among waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, waist/height ratio, obesity degree and abdominal visceral fat area and evaluated that which one of these kinds of indices is the most useful predictor for visceral fat area in Korean obese adolescents. Results : There were significant correlation between waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, waist/height ratio and obesity index in both group. In boys waist/hip ratio had correlation with abdominal visceral fat area and in girls obesity index had significant correlation with abdominal visceral fat area. Conclusions : Our study suggests that waist/hip ratio in boys, obesity degree in girls can be a relatively good parameter for predicting abdominal visceral fat area.