Association of Lifestyle Factors With Abdominal Subcutaneous and Visceral Adiposity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE -The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between lifestyle factors and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in a community-based setting.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -Cross-sectional associations between lifestyle factors (dietary quality, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and SAT and VAT volumes were examined in 2,926 Framingham Heart Study participants (48.6% women, aged 50 Ϯ 10 years). RESULTS -Diets consistent with the 2005 Dietary GuidelinesAdherence Index and greater physical activity were inversely associated with SAT and VAT (P Ͻ 0.0001-0.002). In men, former smoking was associated with higher SAT (2,743 Ϯ 56 cm3 ) compared with current smokers (2,629 Ϯ 88 cm 3 ) or those who never smoked (2,538 Ϯ 44 cm 3 ; P ϭ 0.02). Both former and current smoking was associated with higher VAT (P ϭ 0.03 [women]; P ϭ 0.005 [men]). Women with high amounts of alcohol intake (Ͼ7 drinks/week) had lower SAT (2,869 Ϯ 106 cm 3 ) than those who consumed less alcohol (3,184 Ϯ 44 cm 3 , P ϭ 0.006); significant differences in VAT were not observed (P ϭ 0.18). In men, high amounts of alcohol intake (Ͼ14 drinks/ week) were associated with higher VAT (2,272 Ϯ 59 cm 3 ) compared with intake of Յ14 drinks/week (2,139 Ϯ 25 cm 3 , P ϭ 0.04), whereas SAT did not differ (P ϭ 0.91). An increasing number of healthy lifestyle factors were associated with lower SAT and VAT volumes (all P Ͻ 0.003).CONCLUSIONS -Adherence to recommended dietary guidelines and physical activity are associated with lower SAT and VAT volumes. However, both smoking and high alcohol intake are differentially associated with VAT volumes. Further research to uncover the putative mechanisms is warranted. Diabetes Care 32:505-510, 2009A bdominal adiposity is strongly associated with metabolic and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk (1) and all-cause mortality (2). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in particular may be a pathogenic fat compartment (3). Numerous studies have demonstrated that central obesity is associated with lifestyle factors (4 -6). However, the majority of these studies used waist circumference as a proxy for abdominal obesity, which does not allow for the differentiation between subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and VAT. As VAT is more strongly associated with metabolic risk factors than SAT (3), it is important to identify whether VAT is more correlated with lifestyle factors. This information may provide more understanding of the relationship between a healthy lifestyle and VAT and the contribution of individual lifestyle factors to cardiometabolic risk.Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the relation between lifestyle factors (dietary quality, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and SAT and VAT volumes, as assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), in a large populationbased cohort of women and men free of CVD.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -Participants for this study were part of the Framingham Heart Study MDCT Study, a substudy ...

Fat distribution in men of different waist girth, fitness level and exercise habit

“…Data from the Framingham Heart Study also suggest that visceral adipose tissue levels are lower in those who lead a healthy lifestyle, including those who are physically active and those who follow dietary guidelines. 39 Our study has several limitations. There is some evidence that diet influences visceral and liver fat content in nonalcoholics, 40,41 but we did not investigate the confounding effects of diet.…”

Factors Associated With the Concentration of Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat

“…Behavioral habits have also been linked to visceral fat accumulation [6,11]. One study found a lower average VAT and SAT in subjects that had a healthier lifestyle [11]. Despite the considerable amount of data in the literature showing that smokers have a lower BMI compared with former smokers and non-smokers due to the action of nicotine in increased metabolic rate and appetite suppression, evidence indicates that smokers have a higher volume of VAT [11,43,44].…”

“…Even though the performance of BMI as a predictor variable for VAT was lower when compared to abdominal obesity markers, a correlation between this parameter and the amount of visceral fat was observed [41,42]. Behavioral habits have also been linked to visceral fat accumulation [6,11]. One study found a lower average VAT and SAT in subjects that had a healthier lifestyle [11].…”

“…One study found a lower average VAT and SAT in subjects that had a healthier lifestyle [11]. Despite the considerable amount of data in the literature showing that smokers have a lower BMI compared with former smokers and non-smokers due to the action of nicotine in increased metabolic rate and appetite suppression, evidence indicates that smokers have a higher volume of VAT [11,43,44]. Although this association was not observed in our study, the underlying principles that relate smoking to a greater concentration of visceral fat are not entirely clear.…”

“…sufficiently investigated [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. There are still important gaps in the profile composition of subjects with a higher risk of visceral obesity.…”