All issues > Volume 48(10); 2005

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(10):1082-1089. Published online October 15, 2005.

The Usefulness of the Abdominal Computerized Tomography for the Diagnosis of Childhood Obesity and Its Correlation with Various Parameters of Obesity

Yoon Hee YH Shim¹, Su Jin SJ Cho¹, Jung Hyun JH Rhyu², Young Mi YM Hong¹

¹Departments of Pediatrics , College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea
²Departments of Diagnositic Radiology, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Young Mi YM Hong ,Email: hongym@chollian.net

Abstract

Purpose
: Abdominal obesity is encountered as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, the anthropometric cut-off value to estimate the cardiovascular risk, has not been suggested. This study was designed to find the relationship between the abdominal fat and various parameters of obesity to find the cardiovascular risk factors related to abdominal obesity and to establish practical methods to measure them.
Methods
: Twenty seven obese Korean adolescents of moderate to severe degree and 22 healthy adolescents were enrolled. The body mass index(BMI), arm circumference and skinfold thickness were measured. Furthermore, blood lipid, sugar, insulin and four different cytokines' levels were checked and the distribution of body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat thickness by abdominal ultrasonography(US) and the total and intra-abdominal fat area by abdominal computerized tomography(CT) were measured in the obese group.
Results
: The most accurate method to measure abdominal fat in children is abdominal CT and the fat mass measured by bioelectrical impedance was strongly correlated with it(r=0.954). It was also correlated with arm circumference, fat thickness measured by abdominal US, BMI, aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and triglyceride level.
Conclusion
: Abdominal CT is the most accurate method to measure intra-abdominal fat, and it can be replaced by abdominal US for cost effectiveness. The screening methods that can be used at school or in outpatient basis include bioelectrical impedance, waist/hip ratio, and arm circumference. The cardiovascular risk factors include leptin, triglyceride and insulin level.

Keywords :Obesity , Abdominal CT , Abdominal US , Bioelectrical impedance