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Aim: Impaired autonomic function could be the mechanism for the development of cardiometabolic diseases in obesity. Hence, simple anthropometric measures of overall and central obesity could be screening markers for autonomic imbalance. We analysed the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) parameters and obesity indicators. Methods: Sixty ‐ three obese women underwent blood pressure, lipids and anthropometric measurements, body composition assessment, HOMA (homeostasis model assessment) index calculation and short ‐ term HRV analysis. Results: The correlation between obesity indicators and HRV parameters was influenced by age. In the multiple regression model, sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) was a significant negative predictor of lnLF/HF (logarithmically transformed ratio of low to high frequencies) and lnLFnorm, and positive predictor of HFnorm (normalized high frequencies); the significant relationship remained even after adjustment for age, HOMA, blood pressure, lipid profile, menopause, body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (FAT). Anterior forearm skinfold showed inverse association with HRV. Correlation between waist circumference and waist ‐ to ‐ height ratio (WHtR) with lnLF/HF, as well as between anterior thigh skinfold with lnLF/HF, LFnorm (normalised low frequencies) and HFnorm was lost after further adjustments. Conclusion: Among all anthropometric measures, SAD and anterior forearm skinfold thickness showed the highest predictive ability for HRV. Markers of lower sympathetic and higher cardiac parasympathetic activity corresponded with indicator of central obesity, while indicators of peripheral obesity showed completely opposite relationship with markers of cardiac autonomic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by obesity and insulin resistance. Measures of regional obesity may be used to predict insulin resistance. In the present study we compared fat distribution in patients with PCOS vs. controls and established the best measure of fat mass to predict insulin resistance in patients with PCOS.Material and Methods: The study was cross-sectional in an academic tertiary-care medical center with 167 premenopausal women with PCOS and 110 controls matched for ethnicity, BMI and age. Total and regional fat and lean body mass were assessed by whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Anthropometric measures (BMI, waist) and fasting metabolic analyses [insulin, glucose, lipids, Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), lipid accumulation product, and visceral adiposity index] were determined. Trial registration numbers: NCT00451568, NCT00145340.Results: Women with PCOS had higher central fat mass (waist, waist-hip ratio, and upper/lower fat ratio) compared with controls. In bivariate associations, the strongest associations were found between HOMA-IR and the fat mass measures trunk fat (r = 0.59), waist (r = 0.57) and BMI (r = 0.56), all p < 0.001. During multiple regression analyses, trunk fat, waist and BMI were the best predictors of HOMA-IR (R2  = 0.48, 0.49, and 0.47, respectively).Conclusions: Women with PCOS were characterized by central obesity. Trunk fat, waist and BMI were the best predictors of HOMA-IR in PCOS, but only limited information regarding insulin resistance was gained by whole body DXA scan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objective To describe associations between total and regional body fat mass loss and reduction of systemic levels of inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)) in obese, older adults with osteoarthritis (OA), undergoing intentional weight loss. Design Data come from a single-blind, 18-month, randomized controlled trial in adults (age: 65.6 ± 6.2; Body mass index (BMI): 33.6 ± 3.7) with knee OA. Participants were randomized to diet-induced weight loss plus exercise (D + E; n = 150), diet-induced weight loss-only (D; n = 149), or exercise-only (E; n = 151). Total body and region-specific (abdomen and thigh) fat mass were measured at baseline and 18 months. High-sensitivity CRP and IL-6 were measured at baseline, six and 18 months. Intervention effects were assessed using mixed models and associations between inflammation and adiposity were compared using logistic and mixed linear regression models. Results Intentional total body fat mass reduction was associated with significant reductions in log-adjusted CRP ( β = 0.06 (95% CI = 0.04, 0.08) mg/L) and IL-6 ( β = 0.02 (95% CI = 0.01, 0.04) pg/mL). Loss of abdominal fat volume was also associated with reduced inflammation, independent of total body fat mass; although models containing measures of total adiposity yielded the best fit. The odds of achieving clinically desirable levels of CRP (<3.0 mg/L) and IL-6 (<2.5 pg/mL) were 3.8 (95% CI = 1.6, 8.9) and 2.2 (95% CI = 1.1, 4.6), respectively, with 5% total weight and fat mass loss. Conclusions Achievement of clinically desirable levels of CRP and IL-6 more than double with intentional 5% loss of total body weight and fat mass. Global, rather than regional, measures of adiposity are better predictors of change in inflammatory burden. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT00381290. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the relationship between fat distribution and non-alcoholic fatty liver(NAFLD) in overweight/obese adults., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 736(190 men and 546 women) 19-56 years old overweight/obese people in Beijing were selected by convenient sampling. Their age and body mass index(BMI) distribution were 36(31-46) years old and 28.0(26.2-30.7), respectively. The body fat mass and regional fat mass were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA), and Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between regional fat mass and the risk of NAFLD., Results: The prevalence of NAFLD was 70.0%(515/736) in overweight/obese population. In the multivariate Logistic model, after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, hypertension and body fat mass, waist circumference(WC), thigh fat mass and android fat mass were significantly association with NAFLD risk(P&lt;0.05), but no association was found between arms, trunk and gynoid fat mass and NAFLD risk. There were interactions between thigh fat mass and age(P&#95;(interaction)&lt;0.001) and BMI group(P&#95;(interaction)=0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that thigh fat mass and NAFLD risk were significantly associated in ≤36-year-old(OR=0.62, 95%CI 0.48-0.81), male(OR=0.32, 95%CI 0.16-0.64) and overweight(OR=0.48, 95%CI 0.36-0.64) groups, but in the &gt;36-year-old, female and the obesity group this association was not statistically significant. There was an interaction between trunk fat mass and age group(P&#95;(interaction)=0.009). There was a positive correlation between trunk fat mass and NAFLD risk in &gt;36-year-old group(OR=1.63, 95%CI 1.35-1.97), but no association was found in ≤36-year-old group. In addition, we also found that a significant interaction between gynoid fat mass and BMI group on NAFLD(P&#95;(interaction)&lt;0.001). In overweight, gynoid fat mass was negatively correlated with the risk of NAFLD(OR=0.12, 95% CI 0.06-0.25), but in the obesity group, the association was not statistically significant. There were no statistically significant interactions between WC, arms fat mass and android mass and age, sex and BMI groups., Conclusion: WC, android fat mass and thigh fat mass are associated with the risk of NAFLD. Thigh fat mass has a significant interaction with age and BMI group on the risk of NAFLD(only in ≤36-year-old group, male and overweight group a significant protective effect of thigh fat on NAFLD was found, but not in &gt;36-year-old group, female and obesity group). Trunk fat mass had an interaction with age(the association between trunk fat mass and NAFLD was significant in &gt;36-year-old group). Gynoid fat mass and BMI group also have a significant interaction on NAFLD(the detrimental effect of gynoid fat on NAFLD is much more profound in the obesity group).

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare total and regional body composition and their relationship with glucose homeostasis in physically active and non-active individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (c-SCI)., Methods: Individuals with lesion level between C5-C7 were divided into two groups: physically active (PA; n = 14; who practiced physical exercise for at least 3 months, three times per week or more, minimum of 150 minutes/week): and non-physically active (N-PA n = 8). Total fat mass (t-FM) and regional fat mass (r-FM) were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasting plasma insulin (FPI) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: PA group present lower (P < 0.01) total fat mass (t-FM), % and kg, regional fat mass (r-FM), % and kg, FPI levels and HOMA index, while they had higher (P < 0.001) total free fat mass (t-FFM), %, and regional free fat mass (r-FFM), %, compared to the N-PA group. In the N-PA group, FPI and HOMA index were negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with FFM% (r = -0.71, -0.69, respectively) and positively correlated to trunk-FM (r = 0.71, 0.69, respectively) and trunk-FM:t-FM (kg) ratio (r = 0.83, 0.79, respectively)., Conclusion: Physical exercise is associated with lower t-FM, r-FM, and insulin resistance, which could contribute to the decrease of the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions in individuals with c-SCI.