Measurements of body fat is associated with markers of inflammation, insulin resistance and lipid levels in both overweight and in lean, healthy subjects

SummaryBackground & aimsLow-grade inflammation is associated with fat mass in overweight. Whether this association exists in lean persons is unknown.Aims were to investigate associations between anthropometric measures of fat distribution and fat mass (% and kg) assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Furthermore we wanted to investigate the relationship between fat mass and markers of insulin resistance, inflammation, and lipids in healthy subjects in different BMI categories.MethodsWe compared 47 healthy overweight adults (BMI 26–40 kg/m2) and 40 lean (BMI 17–25 kg/m2) matched for age and sex. Waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and triceps skinfold were used to evaluate fat distribution. BIA was used to estimate fat mass (% and kg). Markers of insulin resistance, lipids, inflammation and adipokines were measured.ResultsHip circumference was associated (P < 0.01) with BIA-assessed fat mass (%) in both groups (lean: regression coefficient B = 0.4; overweight: B = 0.5). An increase in hip circumference in all tertiles was associated with higher plasma levels of leptin, CRP and C-peptide in both groups.ConclusionsFat mass may play a role in low-grade inflammation also in subjects within the normal range of BMI. Hip circumference may be a surrogate measure for fat mass in subjects in different BMI categories, and may be useful for identification of people with risk of developing overweight-related chronic diseases.