EFFECT OF WEIGHT-LOSS ON BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION IN OBESE CHILDREN

The intra-abdominal visceral fat to subcutaneous fat ratio (V/S ratio) has been reported to be strongly related to disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism, and hypertension. It is a matter of concern as to wh ether weight loss causes an improvement of the V/S ratio or not in obe se children. Changes in body fat distribution during weight loss in 23 obese children were quantified by weight, bioelectrical impedance ana lysis (BIA) and computed tomography (CT scan of the abdomen). Twenty-t hree patients were divided into two groups; six were in the inpatient group and 17 were in the outpatient group. Bodyweight, body fat percen tage, subcutaneous fat and visceral fat were significantly higher in t he inpatient group than in the outpatient group before weight loss. Wh ereas the V/S ratio was almost equal between the two groups before wei ght loss. Bodyweight, body fat percentage, subcutaneous fat and viscer al fat were found to decrease significantly during weight loss in the two groups. The V/S ratio of the outpatient group did not change after weight loss. In contrast, the V/S ratio of the inpatient group decrea sed significantly during weight loss. These preliminary findings sugge st that a large amount of body fat and a high obesity rate are not alw ays accompanied by a high V/S ratio in obese children. The fat pattern changes during weight loss with strict dietary therapy and therapeuti c exercise. A larger sample of obese children should be studied to tes t this conjecture.