The Demographic Specific Abdominal Fat Composition and Distribution Trends in US Adults from 2011 to 2018

Furong Xu (), Jacob E. Earp, Bryan J. Blissmer, Ingrid E. Lofgren, Matthew J. Delmonico and Geoffrey W. Greene
Additional contact information
Furong Xu: School of Education, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Jacob E. Earp: Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Bryan J. Blissmer: Department of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Ingrid E. Lofgren: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Matthew J. Delmonico: Department of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Geoffrey W. Greene: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: Despite the rising awareness of abdominal adiposity associated health problems and demographic health disparities, research is lacking about abdominal fat trends using a national representative sample of US adults. Our purpose was to examine national demographic specific abdominal fat composition and distribution trends from 2011 to 2018. This trend analysis was using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data ( n = 13,163). Visceral adipose percent (VAT%), visceral adipose tissue area (VAA) and visceral to subcutaneous adipose area ratio (VSR) were utilized in data analyses. Multiple polynomial linear regression was utilized with adjustment for confounding variables. Our findings revealed that VAT%, VAA and VSR trends were concave among all demographic groups. The VAT%, VAA and/or VSR changes were observed in most demographic groups ( p < 0.05) except younger, White and Black respondents. The pattern was consistent with biennial increases up to 2014 or 2016 followed by decreases in 2017–2018. There were demographic disparities, with middle-aged respondents and Hispanics having the most evident VAT%, VSR and/or VAA changes biennially when compared to their counterparts ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, abdominal fat composition and distribution increased before 2014 or 2016 but decreased afterwards with variations by age and/or race/ethnicity. Further research is needed to explore the possible causes of abdominal fat changes overtime.

Keywords: visceral adipose tissue area; subcutaneous adipose area; visceral to subcutaneous adipose area ratio; adults; health disparities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12103/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/19/12103/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12103-:d:924253

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().