Ultrasonographic anthropometric analysis; anterior abdominal wall subcutaneousfat measurement; influence of age and obesity

ABSTRACT

There is now growing body of evidence which links the abdominal obesity to the increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, infertility. Insulin resistance, obesity is on an increase with improved socio-economic conditions in Pakistan and other developing countries. The anthropometry of the body fat provides useful information. Ultrasonography is now gaining importance as a method for assessment of body composition i.e. fat and fat free mass, the purpose of this study was to determine, the influence of age and obesity on male human anterior abdominal subcutaneous fat. In this study 260 healthy men [20-50 years] were studied by ultrasonographic anthropometric method at even different sites of abdomen. Pearson's correlation coefficient was computed and the results were analyzed statistically by regression analysis and were found to be highly significant [p< 0.01-0.001]. Both, age and obesity influenced the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. The influence of age and obesity on abdominal wall resulted in an increased deposition of subcutaneous fat whereas, interestingly the effect of age was found more marked in normal weight individuals than in overweight or obese