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Visceral Fat Assessment in Over Nourished Children by Ultrasonography and its Relation to Anthropometry

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Abstract

Objective

To measure visceral fat (VF) in over nourished children (6–15 y) by ultrasonography (USG) and to find relation between anthropometric measurements (AM) and VF in these children. This case series included 113 children of 6–15 y with Body Mass Index (BMI) >85th centile who attended the nutrition clinic of a tertiary care centre in rural Kerala from January 2009 through June 2010.

Methods

After recording the base line demographic parameters and anthropometric measurements, VF was assessed by USG. Relation between VF and anthropometric measurements were assessed by correlation. Measurements which showed significant positive correlation were further analyzed by linear regression.

Results

The mean total VF was 145.63 (SD = 25.37) mm. Total VF increased with age. Significant positive correlation was found for weight, height, BMI, hip circumference (HC) and waist circumferences (WC). WC showed maximum correlation. The best predictor of VF was WC.

Conclusions

The total VF in over nourished children increases with age. Even though the most important predictor of visceral fat is WC, it has a low predictive power.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of children and their guardians who participated in this study. They are also thankful to Dr Tony Lawrence, assistant professor, Department of preventive medicine, Govt. TDMC, Alappuzha, for his help in data analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India

    Jayaram Sankar, Girija Mohan & Ramesh Pariyarath

  2. Department of Radio Diagnosis, Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India

    Josey Verghese

Authors
  1. Jayaram Sankar
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  2. Girija Mohan
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  3. Ramesh Pariyarath
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  4. Josey Verghese
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Correspondence to Jayaram Sankar.

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Sankar, J., Mohan, G., Pariyarath, R. et al. Visceral Fat Assessment in Over Nourished Children by Ultrasonography and its Relation to Anthropometry. Indian J Pediatr 79, 1338–1341 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0659-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0659-7

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