THE ASSOCIATIONS OF REGIONAL BODY COMPONENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE METABOLIC RISK FACTORS IN THE MORBIDLY OBESE

It is well accepted that there is a growing obesity epidemic in the United States and around the world. Even more alarming are the rates at which morbid obesity is increasing. From 2000-2005 the prevalence of a BMI >40.0 kg/m2 increased by 52% which is twice the rate moderate obesity increased and the prevalence of a BMI >50.0 kg/m2 increased by 75%, which is 3 times this rate. Due to the rapidly expanding morbidly obese population and the further risk they are subjected to metabolically, physically and in terms of morbidity and mortality, there is an urgent need to better understand the relationships as well as causes between health risks and excessive adipose tissue in the body. The purpose of this study was to examine associations of percent body fat, thigh muscle volume and four different types of fat depots: visceral adipose tissue, abdominal and thigh intermuscular adipose tissue, abdominal and thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue and thigh intramuscular adipose tissue, to several cardiovascular disease metabolic risk factors: inflammation, blood lipids, glucose, insulin, HOMA and blood pressure. This observational, cross-sectional study provided pre-surgery body composition measures of 28 individuals scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery. Descriptive statistics, correlational analyses and multiple linear regression were performed on the data. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between percent fat and plasma triglycerides (r= .384, n= 27, p= .048). A positive correlation between the volume of thigh muscle and insulin (r= .67, n= 15, p= .007). There was a significant, positive correlation between the volume of visceral fat and the total number of comorbidities (r= .50, n= 18, p= .038), and a negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure (r= -.50, n= 18, p< .038). The multiple regression analyses revealed two statistically significant models. Thigh muscle volume and percent fat created a model explaining 52.6% of the variance in fasting plasma insulin. Visceral adipose tissue and percent fat created a significant model explaining 39% of the variance in diastolic blood pressure. Overall, this study found selected noteworthy correlations but was limited by a small, homogenous sample and was unable to make definite conclusions about the association of regional body components to cardiovascular disease metabolic risk factors in the severely obese population. These results and future studies in this area can shed light on potential improvements health care providers can expect when helping this population lose weight.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Privette, Renee Diane

• body components

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/37269

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/37269