Visceral adipose tissue as a predictor for metabolic risk factors in the Korean population

Aims: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation is closely associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We have investigated the appropriate VAT cut-off values for predicting metabolic risk factors in the Korean population. Methods: We assessed 276 men and 540 women aged 17-69 years who were undergoing regular health examinations. Anthropometry, metabolic risk factors and VAT area determined by computed tomography were measured. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to define VAT cut-off points for metabolic risk factors. Results: Based on the first quintile of VAT, the odds ratios for having metabolic risk factors increased significantly with each VAT quintile in both men and women. Using ROC analysis, the appropriate VAT cut-offs for metabolic risk factors were 100 cm² in men and 70 cm² in women. Regression lines indicated that, in men, a VAT of 100 cm² corresponded to a waist circumference of 88.1 cm and a body mass index (BMI) of 24.9 kg/m²; in women, a VAT of 70 cm² corresponded to a waist circumference of 84.0 cm and a BMI of 25.1 kg/m ². Conclusion: VAT cut-offs of 100 cm² in men and 70 cm² in women are useful for defining visceral obesity in Korean subjects. These VAT cut-offs were validated by the ethnic-specific cut-offs for waist circumference and BMI for Korean individuals.