Methods of estimation of visceral fat: advantages of ultrasonography.

Objective: To compare methods for the assessment of visceral fat with computed tomography (CT) and establish cutoffs to define visceral obesity based on such alternative methods.

Research Methods And Procedures: One hundred women (50.4 +/- 7.

[Influence of body fat distribution on the prevalence of arterial hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors in obese patients].

Introduction: Obese people are at higher cardiovascular risk than people with normal body weight. The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between obesity, body fat distribution and cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels were determined in a population of 499 overweight and obese patients (432F/67M; age 39 12.

Two-hour insulin determination improves the ability of abdominal fat measurement to identify risk for the metabolic syndrome.

Objective: Visceral obesity is shown to be a predictor of morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the association of measurements of generalized adiposity and visceral fat area (VFA), with abnormalities of metabolic syndrome (MS).

Research Design And Methods: Seventy-six women (47.

Impact of visceral fat on blood pressure and insulin sensitivity in hypertensive obese women.

Objective: The relationship among body fat distribution, blood pressure, serum leptin levels, and insulin resistance was investigated in hypertensive obese women with central distribution of fat.

Research Methods And Procedures: We studied 74 hypertensive women (age, 49.8 +/- 7.

Effects of sibutramine on the treatment of obesity in patients with arterial hypertension.

Objective: To assess the effects of weight reduction with 10mg of sibutramine or placebo on blood pressure during 24 hours (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring), on left ventricular mass, and on antihypertensive therapy in 86 obese and hypertensive patients for 6 months.

Methods: The patients underwent echocardiography, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and measurement of the levels of hepatic enzymes prior to and after treatment with sibutramine or placebo.

Results: The group using sibutramine had a greater weight loss than that using placebo (6.