Association of adiposity, measured by skinfold thickness, with parental history of diabetes in a South Indian population: data from CURES-114

Skinfold Thickness as a Cardiometabolic Risk Predictor in Sedentary and Active Adult Populations

Studies report that increased body fat can lead to health risks for individuals. However, some methods used for analyzing adiposity did not identify its distribution in the human body because they are typically measured using bioimpedance scales. This study aims to associate the presence of cardiometabolic risk factors in sedentary and active adult populations through anthropometric methods based on skinfold thickness measurements. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 946 adults aged between 18 and 79 years with prior informed consent. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters, as well as some cardiometabolic risk factors, were evaluated. Almost half of the population (45.1%; n = 427) is sedentary. A significant association was found between the sum of the skinfolds (bicipital, tricipital, subscapular, and suprailiac) and the cardiometabolic risk factors evaluated, highlighting the cardiovascular risk associated with abdominal obesity, risk of insulin resistance, as well as the development of hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. The bicipital fold was thicker (19.67 mm) in the population with a sedentary lifestyle than in the physically active population (18.30 mm). Furthermore, the skinfolds that predict higher metabolic risks were suprailiac and subscapular in sedentary and active populations. Thus, these skinfold measurements could be considered in assessing the adult population for early cardiometabolic risk detection, even in healthy and physically active people.

Genetic association of anthropometric traits with type 2 diabetes in ethnically endogamous Sindhi families

Background

Ethnically endogamous populations can shed light on the genetics of type 2 diabetes. Such studies are lacking in India. We conducted this study to determine the genetic and environmental contributions of anthropometric traits to type 2 diabetes risk in the Sindhi families in central India.

Methods

We conducted a family study in Indian Sindhi families with at least one case of type 2 diabetes. Variance components methods were used to quantify the genetic association of 18 anthropometric traits with eight type 2 diabetes related traits. Univariate and bivariate polygenic models were used to determine the heritability, genetic and environmental correlation of anthropometric traits with type 2 diabetes related traits.

Results

We included 1,152 individuals from 112 phenotyped families. The ascertainment-bias corrected prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 35%. Waist circumference, hip circumference and the biceps, triceps, subscapular and medial calf skinfold thicknesses were polygenically and significantly associated with type 2 diabetes. The range of heritability of the anthropometric traits and type 2 diabetes related traits was 0.27–0.73 and 0.00–0.39, respectively. Heritability of type 2 diabetes as a discrete trait was 0.35. Heritability curves demonstrated a substantial local influence of type 2 diabetes related traits. Bivariate trait analyses showed that biceps and abdominal skinfold thickness and all waist-containing indexes were strongly genetically correlated with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions

In this first study of Sindhi families, we found evidence for genetic and environmental concordance of anthropometric traits with type 2 diabetes. Future studies need to probe into the genetics of type 2 diabetes in this population.

Can optoelectronic plethysmography be used to evaluate the thoracoabdominal kinematics of people with morbidly obesity? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Optoelectronic Plethysmography (OEP) is an effective method for evaluating thoracoabdominal kinematics. However, little is known about the viability and use the OEP in people with obesity.

OBJECTIVE

Summarize information on the use and feasibility of OEP in the assessment of thoracoabdominal kinematics in people with obesity.

METHODS

Studies were identified through PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Web of Science and Scopus databases in the February 2021.

RESULTS

Six studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies used the OEP to assess abdominal and thoracic mobility in obese people of different BMI, using the default setting. No study reported the impossibility of using OEP in people with obesity.

CONCLUSION

Has been shown that it is possible to use the OEP in people with obesity with a BMI of up to 50 kg/m². More studies are needed to demonstrate the feasibility of the method in people with a BMI greater than this value.

Comparison of 7-site skinfold measurement and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for estimating body fat percentage and regional adiposity in Taiwanese diabetic patients

Obesity and regional adiposity are important risk factors for cardiometabolic disorders. The aim of this study is to compare 7-site skinfold (SF) measurement to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as the reference method for estimating body fat percentage (BF%) and regional adiposity in diabetic outpatients. A total of 59 diabetic patients (36 females and 23 males) aged 28.5–78 years (median 67.7 years) with BMI 18.8–40.6 kg/m² (median: 25.5 kg/m²) were enrolled. 7-site skinfold measurement and DXA were performed at the same visit day and biochemistry data were collected. Our results demonstrate the BF% calculated via Jackson & Pollock 7-site skinfold equation presents a strong correlation (r = 0.672, p < 0.001 in females; r = 0.885, p < 0.001 in males) with that measured by DXA, but the means of BF% between these two methods are significantly different in both sexes (paired t-test, p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman analysis showed the mean differences (DXA-SF) of BF% were positive for female (8.74%) and male (7.22%), suggesting Jackson & Pollock 7-site skinfold equation tends to underestimate the BF%. Besides, regional SF thicknesses of 7-site skinfold measurement were significantly correlated with the matched regional adiposity quantified by DXA. Furthermore, truncal and android SF thicknesses were notably positively correlated with several cardiometabolic risk factors in gender-specific manner. Our data indicate the 7-site skinfold measurement is not an interchangeable method for precisely measuring BF%, but might be practical for evaluating the cardiometabolic risks in Taiwanese diabetic outpatients.

Total and Compartmental Chest Wall Volumes, Lung Function, and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Individuals with Abdominal Obesity: Effects of Body Positions

Background

Abdominal obesity is a chronic condition that can contribute to impairments in lung function, leading to increased risks for respiratory-related diseases. Body position is an important technique that effectively restores and increases lung function and chest wall volumes. The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of the body positions on total and compartmental chest wall volumes, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength in individuals with and without abdominal obesity.

Methods

Twenty obesity and twenty healthy males performed in four body position including sitting without and with back support, Fowler's, and supine positions. Each position was performed for five minutes. Chest wall volumes, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength were assessed in each position.

Results

Sitting without and with back support resulted in higher total and rib cage compartmental chest wall volumes, lung function, and inspiratory muscle strength than Fowler's and supine positions in both groups (p < 0.001). Abdominal obesity subjects had significantly less total and compartmental chest wall volumes and lung function across four body positions than healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Respiratory muscle strength in the obesity group was less than that in the healthy control group (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

This study provides new information regarding the effect of obesity and body position on chest wall volumes, lung function, and respiratory muscle strength. Among obesity individuals who are bedridden, sitting increases lung function, total and rib cage compartmental chest wall volumes, and inspiratory muscle strength-and would therefore likely to decrease the risk of respiratory-related disease-relative to Fowler's and supine positions.

Skinfold thickness and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension: an analysis of the PERU MIGRANT study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between excess body fat, assessed by skinfold thickness, and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (HT).

DESIGN

Data from the ongoing PERU MIGRANT Study were analysed. The outcomes were T2DM and HT, and the exposure was skinfold thickness measured in bicipital, tricipital, subscapular and suprailiac areas. The Durnin-Womersley formula and SIRI equation were used for body fat percentage estimation. Risk ratios and population attributable fractions (PAF) were calculated using Poisson regression.

SETTING

Rural (Ayacucho) and urban shantytown district (San Juan de Miraflores, Lima) in Peru.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults (n 988) aged ≥30 years (rural, rural-to-urban migrants, urban) completed the baseline study. A total of 785 and 690 were included in T2DM and HT incidence analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

At baseline, age mean was 48·0 (sd 12·0) years and 47 % were males. For T2DM, in 7·6 (sd 1·3) years, sixty-one new cases were identified, overall incidence of 1·0 (95 % CI 0·8, 1·3) per 100 person-years. Bicipital and subscapular skinfolds were associated with 2·8-fold and 6·4-fold risk of developing T2DM. On the other hand, in 6·5 (sd 2·5) years, overall incidence of HT was 2·6 (95 % CI 2·2, 3·1) per 100 person-years. Subscapular and overall fat obesity were associated with 2·4- and 2·9-fold risk for developing HT. The PAF for subscapular skinfold was 73·6 and 39·2 % for T2DM and HT, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a strong association between subscapular skinfold thickness and developing T2DM and HT. Skinfold assessment can be a laboratory-free strategy to identify high-risk HT and T2DM cases.

Correlation of Subcutaneous Fat Measured on Ultrasound with Body Mass Index

BACKGROUND

Body mass index (BMI) is used for the assessment of obesity and overweight worldwide. When body fat is increased BMI is also increased. Ultrasound is a reliable method to assess body fat. We have selected only one suprapubic region for the assessment of fat which is very easy to measure even in routine pelvic and abdominal ultrasound examination. During our routine examination, we can measure abdominal fat and inform the patient about his/her health state regarding obesity. It was a hypothesis that increases in abdominal subcutaneous fat will increase in BMI.

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to correlate subcutaneous fats measured on ultrasound with BMI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It was a cross-sectional study, which was performed in Gilani ultrasound center, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 384 participants were included with simple random sampling technique. Individuals of 16-60 years age of both genders were included in that study. Pregnant ladies, athletes, children, and elderly participants were not included in that study. Toshiba (Xario) and Mindray (Z5) ultrasound machine were used for subcutaneous fats measurement. Participants were scanned in the supine position. Subcutaneous fats were measured on the suprapubic region in three different trials. Compression was avoided. Compression artifacts were avoided by applying more quantity of gel between transducer and skin. Stadiometer was used for the measurement of weight and height. To calculate BMI, Quetelet index was used. BMI was calculated with that formula BMI = weight (kg) divided by height (m2).

RESULTS

The result was made by calculation of mean and standard deviation. We calculated Pearson correlation between BMI and subcutaneous fats measured on ultrasound at the suprapubic region. It showed a significant high correlation between BMI and subcutaneous fat (P = 0.0000 which is < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

There is a significantly high correlation between BMI and subcutaneous fat measured on ultrasound. Ultrasound is a reliable method to assess subcutaneous fat. It can be a predictor of obesity like BMI.