Latent obesity (L-obesity), which is defined as BMI<25 with a body fat percentage (% fat) ≥30%, has been the recent object of intensive study. However, the nature and cause of L-obesity are unclear: We first determined the prevalence of obesity by focusing on L-obesity among two groups of female college undergraduates studying similar courses in a large city (Tokyo) and in a small prefecture (Shimane), respectively groups T and S. We then used the data to identify the anthropometric and biochemical characteristics of L-obesity.
Eight anthropometric measurements were collected, including BMI, % fat and mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), together with 9 biochemical measurements, including cholinesterase, free fatty acids (FFA), fasting immuno-reactive insulin and insulin resistance.
The prevalence of L-obesity was found to be significantly higher in group S (21.1%) than in group T (4.3%). The values of % fat, MAC and triceps skinfold-thickness were significantly higher in group S, while the insulin resistance was significantly higher in group T.
The results show that the prevalence of L-obesity and the insulin resistance both had regional differences between the two groups of healthy young females undertaking similar study.
