Abstract
We examined the relationship between the waistband-pressure measured by a hydrostatic pressure-balanced method and the thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat measured by an ultrasonography. Subjects were 7 women aged 19 to 39 years old, and their Rohrer indices ranged from 118.0 to 145.3. Pressure was applied evenly to the subjects' waists using an inside belt 2.5 cm in width as a waistband. Waistbands having three lengths [a perfect fit length or 100% (constriction ratio : 0%), 97.5 % (2.5%), and 95.0 % (5.0%)] were used. Regional changes of waistband-pressures were caused by various body movements. A positive linear relationship between the waistband-pressure and the constriction ratio of the waistband was obtained in only 12 combinations of 70 experimental conditions (17.4 %). The thickness of subcutaneous fat, showing regional and individual differences and ranging from 3.1 to 29.4 mm, changed with respiratory movements, decreasing in inhalation phases and increasing in exhalation phases. When the subjects wore the waistband with 2.5% constriction, for instance, the thickness of subcutaneous fat directly under the waistband decreased 10.4-31.6% due to body movements, while that at horizontal planes (either superiorly 3 cm apart or inferiorly 3.5 cm apart from the waistline) inversely increased 12.9-32.1%. In this way, the waistband-pressure and the thickness of subcutaneous fat were affected by respiratory movements, body movements, and constriction ratios of the waistband. We obtained significant correlation coefficients between the waistband-pressure and the thickness of subcutaneous fat in 21.8% of the combinations.
