Ultrasonography measurements have been used in clinical practice to provide an index of visceral fat accumulation in adults, but so far this has not been done in children. This study was conducted to seek correlations between ultrasonographic data and various anthropometric parameters in preschooler. Anthropometry, body composition, and abdominal fat thickness were evaluated in 408 preschooler (199 boys and 209 girls) aged 3 to 6 years. The subjects were divided into sex and age-groups, furthermore, the subjects were classified into three groups on the basis of BMI percentiles. Abdominal fat thickness (maximum preperitoneal layer, Pmax; minimum subcutaneous layer, Smin) was measured by ultrasonography (ALOKA, SSD-500). In both sexes, significant relationships between various indices of fat distribution and Pmax were demonstrated: body mass index (p<0.001) and percentage body fat (p<0.001). In addition, Smin and Pmax in >BMI75%ile preschooler were significantly higher than in <BMI25%ile and BMI25-75%ile preschooler. These findings suggest that visceral fat (preperitoneal fat layer) in overweight children begins to accumulate in early childhood.
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