Article
Individual and joint associations of several lifestyle factors (diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption) with subcutaneous and visceral fat
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Authors
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Maria Frömel
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Cara Övermöhle
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Sabina Waniek
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Jan Kassubek
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Hans-Peter Müller
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Katharina Weber
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Wolfgang Lieb
| Published: | September 6, 2024 |
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Outline
Text
Objective: The prevalences of overweight and obesity are rising worldwide and both conditions confer an increased risk for a variety of diseases. It is known that different fat depots, such as subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue, differ in their metabolic activity. Less is known about how individual lifestyle factors are related to different fat depots. We aimed to assess the individual and joint cross-sectional associations of 4 lifestyle factors, i. e. diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-determined volumes of SAT and VAT in a community-based sample from Northern Germany.
Methods: Data stem from a subsample (n=324, 42% women, mean age 67±11 years) of the third examination cycle of the “popgen controls”, a community-based sample from the Kiel area in Northern Germany. Diet and alcohol consumption were assessed using an FFQ. Information on smoking status and physical activity were obtained through a standardized questionnaire. A diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grain bread and low in red meat was rated as favorable. SAT and VAT volumes were determined by MRI. Associations between each individual lifestyle factor and a healthy lifestyle index (consisting of these lifestyle factors, coded in a binary fashion; favorable expression of the lifestyle factor = 1, unfavorable expression of the lifestyle factor = 0) and SAT and VAT (each considered as an individual outcome) were assessed using multivariable-adjusted linear regression analysis.
Results: With a median BMI of 27,1 kg/m2, the study sample was on average overweight. None of the individual lifestyle factors showed a significant association with SAT when adjusted for the remaining lifestyle factors including BMI. Diet was the only lifestyle factor that was statistically significantly inversely associated with VAT (-0.72 (95% CI: -1.14; -0.30), p = 0.001). However, when these lifestyle factors were combined into a lifestyle index, this index was inversely associated with VAT (-0.42 (-0.67; -0.17), p = 0.001) in a multivariable-adjusted model. Upon additional adjustment for BMI, VAT (-0.35 (-0.54; -0.15), p = 0.001) remained significantly inversely associated with the lifestyle index. No significant association of the lifestyle index with SAT was observed neither with (0.05 (-0.13; 0.22), p = 0.619) nor without (-0,08 (-0.42; 0.25), p = 0,619) additional adjustment for BMI.
Conclusion: Diet as an individual lifestyle factor and a higher total number of favorable lifestyle factors are associated with less VAT but not with SAT. Thus, a healthy lifestyle including high intake of fruit, vegetables, whole grain bread and low intake of red meat might be crucial for targeting visceral obesity and its associated health risks.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
The authors declare that a positive ethics committee vote has been obtained.
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