IJE Advance Access originally published online on December 8, 2005
International Journal of Epidemiology 2006 35(1):83-92; doi:10.1093/ije/dyi253
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2005; all rights reserved.
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What aspects of body fat are particularly hazardous and how do we measure them?
1 Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2 Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3 Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
* Corresponding author. Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: marieke.snijder@falw.vu.nl
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Introduction |
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There is a worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity,1 which contributes to a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.2,3 It has been projected that by 2020, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease will account for almost three-fourth of all deaths worldwide.4
Since the 1950s it has been recognized that apart from overall obesity the distribution of body fat can influence disease risk.5 In particular an abdominal fat distribution is associated with metabolic disturbances and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In the present paper we will discuss different ways to measure body composition and focus on which aspects of body fatness (e.g. central vs total, subcutaneous vs visceral) are particularly hazardous in terms of morbidity and mortality.
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How to measure body fat? |
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Body fat measurements
Numerous techniques are available to estimate body composition and fat distribution, and the method to use will depend on the aim of the study, economic
Anthropometry in specific groups: older persons
Anthropometry in specific groups: ethnicity
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Epidemiology of body fat measures and associated disease risk |
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Time trends and prevalence of abdominal obesity
Body fat measures in relation to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes
Body fat distribution and premature mortality
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Pathophysiology |
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The role of free fatty acids
Metabolic effects of different fat stores
Alternative or additional explanations for the associations of fat depots and disease risk
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Conclusions |
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