Measurement site influences abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue in obese adolescents before and after exercise

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine if abdominal adipose tissue (AT) measurement site influences the association between baseline and change in abdominal subcutaneous (ASAT) and visceral AT (VAT), and metabolic risk factors in obese adolescents. METHODS: Fifty-five obese adolescents (14.9 ± 1.7 years; 51% male; 42% white) participated in an aerobic or resistance exercise intervention three times/week for 3 months. We compared the association between changes in abdominal AT area (spanning 5 cm below to 15 cm above L4-L5) and volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging with concomitant changes in metabolic risk. RESULTS: All AT areas were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the respective volume at baseline and follow-up. Baseline VAT areas at 5 and 10 cm above L4-L5 were more strongly associated with VAT volume than VAT area at L4-L5 (p < 0.05). After the intervention, changes in the area at 5 and 10 cm above L4-L5 were more strongly associated with changes in AT volumes than changes in L4-L5 (p < 0.05). Changes in abdominal AT volumes were more strongly associated with insulin area under the curve than any single-slice abdominal AT area. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement site for abdominal AT has significant influence on the relationships with total VAT or ASAT and metabolic risk factors in obese adolescents before and after an exercise intervention.