Somatotype characteristics of normal-weight and obese women among different metabolic subtypes

Effect of somatotypes on lung volumes, capacities and respiratory impedance: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

The current morphological condition of an individual is described by a somatotype, which is a three-number scale. The endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph components are presented in the same sequence, and each number corresponds to one of the three basic components of body composition.

METHODS

We recruited 50 healthy male subjects with a mean age of 24.10 ± 4.55 yrs. Somatotype was determined by the Heath and Carter method. Impulse oscillometry was performed followed by spirometry according to the European Respiratory Society (ERS) or American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. Resistance at 5 Hz (R5) %pred, R20%pred, R5-R20, X5%pred, X20, area of reactance (Ax) and resonant frequency (Fres) were obtained by doing impulse oscillometry. Slow vital capacity (SVC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio and maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) were assessed by doing spirometry.

RESULTS

Endomorphs (0.05 (0.00-0.09) vs 0.01 (0.00-0.04); P < 0.0001) and mesomorphs (0.04 (0.000.09) vs 0.01 (0.00-0.04); P = 0.002) had significantly higher R5-R20 than ectomorphs. Similarly, endomorphs (0.32 (0.07-0.82) vs 0.15 (0.08-0.35); P = 0.001) and mesomorphs (0.28 (0.17-0.64) vs 0.15 (0.08-0.35); P = 0.015) also showed significantly higher Ax than ectomorphs, Fres of endomorphs (15.37 (8.43-21.85) vs 10.08 (8.94-14.30); P < 0.0001) and mesomorphs (14.32 (10.24-20.86) vs 10.08 (8.94-14.30); P < 0.0001) were significantly high than ectomorphs. Moreover, spirometric measures reveal significant variation in which mesomorphs had significantly higher values of % predicted of FVC than ectomorphs (92.49 ± 7.211 vs 83.86 ± 7.861; P = 0.042) and the ratio of FEV1 to FVC was significantly higher in ectomorphs than in endomorphs (89.00 ± 5.80 vs 85.04 ± 5.73; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Peripheral airway dysfunction was observed in endomorphs and mesomorphs as compared to ectomorphs. Mesomorphs had a relatively higher FVC that may be due to their greater muscular strength.

Metabolic Obesity in People with Normal Body Weight (MONW)-Review of Diagnostic Criteria

Disorders of metabolic obesity with normal body weight (MONW) are widely recognized risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Despite this, MONW is not diagnosed in clinical practice. There is no consensus on the definition of MONW, and measuring the degree of insulin resistance or obesity among apparently healthy, non-obese patients is not widely applicable. The awareness of the relationship between metabolic disorders such as MONW and a higher risk of mortality from cardiovascular causes and other related diseases prompts the need for action to be taken aimed at creating appropriate diagnostic models that will allow for the effective detection of those with metabolic abnormalities among people with normal body weight. Such actions are decisive in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review the MONW diagnostic criteria used over the years.

Anthropometric and body composition parameters in adolescents with the metabolically obese normal-weight phenotype

We aimed to investigate the anthropometric and body composition parameters associated with the metabolically obese normal-weight (MONW) phenotype. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 506 adolescents in Brazil (aged 10-19 y). The MONW phenotype was defined as normal-weight, according to BMI/age, and at least one metabolic alteration. Anthropometric measurements were obtained and the DEXA was used for body composition analysis. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to estimate the associations. The phenotype was positively associated with waist circumference (male: prevalence ratio (PR) = 1·05; 95% CI 1·01, 1·09; female: PR = 1·06; 95% CI 1·02, 1·09), waist:height ratio (male: PR = 1·26; 95% CI 1·07, 1·49; female: PR = 1·29; 95% CI 1·07, 1·56) and android:gynoid fat ratio (male: PR = 1·25; 95% CI 1·03, 1·51; female: PR = 1·39; 95% CI 1·20, 1·62), in both sexes. Furthermore, there was a positive association of phenotype with waist:hip ratio (PR = 1·32; 95% CI 1·06, 1·65) and trunk:arm fat ratio (PR = 1·13; 95% CI 1·02, 1·24) only in males and with trunk:leg fat ratio (PR = 2·84; 95% CI 1·46, 5·53), BAIp (PR = 1·06; 95% CI 1·01, 1·12), fat mass index (PR = 1·24; 95% CI 1·10, 1·41) and regional indices of metabolic load and capacity (PR = 1·29; 95% CI 1·09, 1·53), in females. Anthropometric and body composition parameters indicative of central and total fat are associated with the MONW phenotype.

Body Composition and Characterization of Skinfold Thicknesses from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Phenotypes. A Preliminar Case-Control Study

To describe whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) phenotypes vary in their body composition and skinfold (SKF) thicknesses and if they differ from women without PCOS, a preiminar case-control study was performed. A total of 117 cases were diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria. Gynecological examinations and transvaginal ultrasound were performed in all women (266 women). Anthropometric measurements including SKF thickness were taken according to the restricted profile protocol of the international standards for the anthropometric evaluation according to the International Society of the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Women with PCOS had higher body mass index and percentage of fat mass with respect to controls. The endomorphy component was also significantly higher in women with PCOS than in controls. Each PCOS phenotype displayed a different representation in the somatochart respect to the others phenotypes and also compared to controls. Women with PCOS had significantly higher ∑7 SKF (p = 0.013), ∑appendicular SKF (p = 0.017) and ∑arm SKF (p = 0.019) than controls. H-O-POM phenotype had higher 7∑ SKF (p = 0.003), ∑appendicular SKF (p = 0.01), ∑arm SKF (0.005), ∑leg SKF, and ∑trunk SKF (0.008) and also a higher fast mass percentage than controls (p = 0.011). In conclusion, body composition evaluated by ISAK protocol is different in women with PCOS, especially in the complete phenotype (H-O-POM). This could have relevant implications in terms of clinical evaluation and follow-up of these women, although more researches in this field are needed.

Obesity and Heath-Carter Somatotyping of 3438 Adults in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China by Multivariate Analysis

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the somatotype and obesity of adults in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and to explore multivariate path analysis for the feasibility and scientificity of using somatotypes to evaluate obesity.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

According to anthropometric methods, a cross-sectional study was performed on 10 indexes of 3438 adults (1690 men and 1748 women, aged > 20 years) living in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China (including Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Xibe, Uzbek, Tatar and Tajik). The Heath-Carter anthropometric method and body mass index (BMI) were used to evaluate somatotype and obesity, respectively. The feasibility and scientificity of using somatotypes to evaluate obesity were analysed by correspondence analysis.

RESULTS

Among the six populations, the somatotypes were mainly distributed as endomorphic mesomorph, mesomorph-endomorph and mesomorphic endomorph populations, accounting for 66.5% of males and 78.8% of females. The obesity rate (27.4% in males, 27.8% in females) of the six populations in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China was much higher than the average Chinese adult obesity rate (12.1%) and the global adult obesity rate (male: 11%, female: 15%). The distribution of BMI was significantly different (male: P=0.000, female: P=0.033) in different populations, and the incidence of overweight and obesity in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China increased gradually. This study found that there were significant differences in somatotype distribution among different obesity groups in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China (P=0.000). There was a strong correlation between overweight or obesity and endomorph-mesomorph, endomorphic mesomorph and mesomorphic endomorph. Furthermore, this study indicated that using somatotypes to evaluate obesity was reliable and scientific.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that the somatotype of overweight or obese people was mainly related to endomorphic mesomorph, mesomorph-endomorph, and mesomorphic endomorph.

Development and validation of the body shape scale (BOSHAS) for assessing body shape perception in African populations

Background

As a consequence of ‘Western’ acculturation, eating disorders and body image disturbances, such as fatness phobia and body dysmorphic disorders towards musculature and body shape, are emerging in Africa, with young people the most affected. It is therefore important to accurately assess perceptions of body shape. However, the existing body image assessment scales lack sufficient accuracy and validity testing to compare body shape perception across different African populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Body Shape Scale (BOSHAS) to evaluate body shape perceptions related body image disorders in African populations.

Methods

To develop the BOSHAS, anthropometric measures of 80 Cameroonians and 81 Senegalese (both sexes included; 40.1% females overall) were taken for three body shape criteria: somatotype components, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio. Subjects were selected to cover a wide variability in body shape and were photographed in full face and profile positions. To validate the BOSHAS, the scale was administered twice (2 weeks apart) to 106 participants (aged 31.2 ± 12.6 years) to assess its reliability. In addition, a questionnaire measuring different aspects of body shape (e.g. musculature) was also administered (n = 597; aged 36.7 ± 15.6 years) to assess its convergent validity.

Results

The BOSHAS includes two sex-specific subscales of 10 photographs each. Most participants were able to repeat their BOSHAS preference order. Test-retest reliability was also consistent in estimating Current Body Shape (CBS), Desired Body Shape and Ideal Body Shape for participants and their partners. CBS was correlated with BMI, and different BOSHAS indices were consistent with declarations obtained by questionnaire.

Conclusions

The BOSHAS is the first sex-specific scale of real African models photographed in face and profile, including large body shape variability. The validation protocol showed good validity and reliability for evaluating body shape perceptions and dissatisfaction of Africans.

Three-Dimensional Human Gait Pattern: Reference Data for Young, Active Women Walking with Low, Preferred, and High Speeds

Normal gait pattern is the key component in the investigation of pathological gait patterns. In computer motion analysis there is a need to include data from participants with different somatic structures to develop a normative database or to limit the database results to a specific population. The aim of this study was to determine kinematic gait patterns for young, active women walking with low, preferred, and self-selected speeds with regard to their somatic characteristics. Laboratory-based gait analysis was performed on 1320 gait cycles taken from 20 young, active women walking with three different speeds. Comprehensive anthropometric measurements and descriptive statistics were used to describe spatiotemporal and angular variables at each walking condition. The results demonstrated some significant differences in young, active women walking between different speeds and compared to the literature. This suggests that there is a need to include data from participants with different somatic structures to develop a normative database or limit the database results to a specific population. Detailed linear and angular kinematic variables allow for proper adjustment of parameters depending on the gait speed of people with locomotion disorders.

Somatotype, diet and nutritional status of women

The relationship between energy value and nutrients intake and the body shape and size parameters (weight, height, waist and hip circumferences) has become an interesting research area for nutritionists and dieticians. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the body shape and size parameters (weight, height, waist and hip circumferences), somatotype (according to the Rohrer (RI) index) and energy value and nutrients intake of women. The study was conducted in 2014 and 2016 on 148 female volunteers aged 57-88 from the Mazovian and Lublin province (Poland). Sample selection was targeted at elderly people with different body types. The exclusion criteria were: multi-organ failure, cancer and disability. Then among the subjects, a survey was conducted, that included demographic data, lifestyle, health status and vitamins and minerals supplements use. Food intake has been assessed using a 3-day dietary food records. The somatotype was determined using the RI with the Curtis key, classifying the subjects as ectomorphic (n=30), mesomorphic (n=31) and endomorphic (n=87). The somatotype was significantly related to place of residence, physical activity, waist and hip circumference, WHR and BMI index, total protein intake, animal protein intake, vitamin E intake (p≤0.05) and to fat, phosphorus and thiamine intake (p≤0.1). The obtained results showed that the place of residence, physical activity, chronic diseases, the use of specialized diet, body weight fluctuations, BMI and WHR were different depending on the somatotype in the examined group of women. Endomorphic subjects had significantly greater waist and hip circumference and diastolic blood pressure compared to the other somatotypes. The somatotype had only a significant effect on total protein, animal protein and vitamin E intake, and ectomorphic elderly women may be particularly susceptible to nutrient deficiencies. Due to the risk of macronutrient, vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the diets of the examined women, it seems necessary to educate this group as well as caregivers and doctors in the area of nutrition adapted to the needs of the elderly.