Risk for metabolic syndrome in the population with visceral fat area measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis

• Published in: The Korean journal of internal medicine 2021, 36(1), , pp.97-105
• Main Authors: Jeon, Han Ho, Lee, Yong Kang, Kim, Dong Hyun, Pak, Haeyong, Shin, Sang Yun, Seo, Jeong Hun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: electric impedance; intra-abdominal fat; metabolic syndrome; Original; 내과학
• ISSN: 1226-3303; 2005-6648
• DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2018.427

To investigate whether visceral fat area (VFA) measured by bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) was associated with metabolic syndrome in subjects with and without obesity. A total 23,202 participants who underwent medical check-ups were assessed. Participants were stratified by body mass index (BMI) and VFA. We evaluated six different groups for metabolic syndrome: Group 1 (normal weight and low VFA), Group 2 (normal weight and high VFA), Group 3 (overweight and low VFA), Group 4 (overweight and high VFA), Group 5 (obesity and low VFA), and Group 6 (obesity and high VFA). Metabolic syndrome traits and metabolic syndrome were significantly more prevalent in the high-VFA (≥ 100 cm2 ) subgroup in each BMI group. Adjusted logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds ratio for metabolic syndrome compared with Group 1 was the highest in Group 6 (24.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21.77 to 27.64). Notably, the odds ratio of Group 2 was higher than that of Group 3 (2.92; 95% CI, 2.30 to 3.69 vs. 2.57; 95% CI, 2.23 to 2.97). Our study demonstrates that the combination of BMI assessment and VFA determination by BIA may be a useful method for predicting the risk of metabolic syndrome. The VFA by BIA may be a useful target for interventions to improve metabolic syndrome.