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Change in intra-abdominal adipose tissue volume during weight loss in obese men and women: correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and anthropometric measurements

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 607–613 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the changes in intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with changes in central abdominal fat (CAF) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and anthropometric measurements in obese subjects before and after a weight loss programme.

DESIGN: Longitudinal, clinical intervention study of a 600 kcal/day deficit diet with 10 mg/day sibutramine per day for six months.

SUBJECTS: Nineteen women (age: 42±8.7 y, BMI: 33.3±1.9 kg/m2) and 17 men (age: 41.8±5.3 y, BMI: 32.6±2.4 kg/m2).

MEASUREMENTS: MRI was used to measure the effect of weight loss on IAAT. Changes in IAAT were compared with changes in CAF by DXA and anthropometry.

RESULTS: The percentage of changes in IAAT was greater than that in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) in both women and men (P<0.01). Changes in IAAT were significantly correlated with changes in weight and BMI in both women and men. In women and not in men, changes in CAF by DXA, waist circumference and WHR were also significantly correlated with the changes in IAAT.

CONCLUSION: Estimation of the change in IAAT was better in obese women than obese men. In both sexes the changes in weight and BMI had the highest correlation coefficients with the change in IAAT.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Tom Redpath, Department of Medical Physics, University of Aberdeen for his help with MRI examinations, and Prof David Reid, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen for his help with DXA examinations. We are also grateful to Mr Mike Franklin, former head of Bio-statistics of Scotland for his statistical advice. Our thanks are also due to all the subjects for their participation in the study, and to Knoll Pharmaceuticals who provided financial support for the measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    EG Kamel & G McNeill

  2. Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, AB21 9SB, UK

    MCW Van Wijk

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  1. EG Kamel
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  2. G McNeill
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Correspondence to EG Kamel.

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Kamel, E., McNeill, G. & Van Wijk, M. Change in intra-abdominal adipose tissue volume during weight loss in obese men and women: correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and anthropometric measurements. Int J Obes 24, 607–613 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801204

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