Environ Exp Biol (2017) 15: 183–190

Comparative evaluation of anthropometric indices and ultrasonographically assessed abdominal fat thicknesses in young women with various total body fat mass

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate a possible correlation between several ultrasonographic indices of abdominal adipose tissue and conventionally used anthropometric indices for evaluation of cardiometabolic diseases risk in a group of young, clinically healthy female subjects with various total body fat level. Fifty four women aged between 19 and 25 years participated in the study and were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI): underweight, normal weight and obese groups. The following anthropometric indices were obtained: BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, sagittal abdominal diameter, and body fat percentage. Preperitoneal, subcutaneous, mesenteric and intraabdominal fat thicknesses were measured by ultrasonography. All of the anthropometric indices used showed significant difference between each study group (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that in subjects with normal BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and sagittal abdominal diameter are suitable parameters for visceral fat mass prediction. The female subjects with age 19 to 25 years with BMI > 30 kg m^–2 had a metabolically healthy adiposity profile.