Korean Journal of Family Medicine

"Body Fat Distribution"

Original Articles

Association between percent body fat and low high-density lipoproteinemia in middle-aged men in Korea: Chang-Hyun Lee, Seon-Hye Won, Hee-Yeon Kim, Sung-Eun Choi, Sang-Yeon Suh; Korean J Fam Med 2025;46(4):247-252. Published online June 7, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.23.0246

Abstract
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Background
Obesity is a significant health risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Dyslipidemia, defined as a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, is associated with these risks. Recent bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices offer precise measurements of the percent body fat (PBF). We aimed to determine the association between PBF and HDL-C levels in middle-aged men in Korea.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional sstudy of men aged 40-65 years who visited a health examination center. Body composition was analyzed using BIA. Health habits were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The participants were divided into four groups based on their PBF: group 1 (<21%), group 2 (21%–23.99%), group 3 (24%–28.99%), and group 4 (≥29%). Logistic regression was used to obtain the odds ratio (OR) between the PBF group and the low HDL-C level and adjusted for other variables.
Results
In this study, 2,685 men were analyzed. The number of individuals diagnosed with low HDL-C levels increased significantly as the group-specific PBF increased. Group 4 showed a 5.5-fold greater association with low HDL-C compared to group 1 (P<0.01), whereas group 3 and group 2 showed an OR of 4.38 and 2.95 (P<0.01 and P<0.01), respectively.
Conclusion
These results suggest that if middle-aged men are able to decrease their body fat by <5%, their HDL-C levels will increase. We suggest that 3%–5% PBF is a useful guideline for general body fat reduction in Korean middle- aged men in primary care.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis as a Helpful Tool in Pediatric Obesity Monitoring: A Case Report
Agata Przytula, Joanna Popiolek-Kalisz
Reports.2025; 8(1): 15. CrossRef
Health behaviors, lifestyle factors, and healthcare challenges in family medicine: a comprehensive review of recent evidence from Asian populations
Joung Sik Son
Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2025; 46(4): 215. CrossRef

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2 Crossref

Association between Appendicular Fat Mass and Metabolic Risk Factors: Si Young Park, Kil Young Kwon, Jung Hwan Kim, Hyung Hwa Choi, Kun Hee Han, Jee Hye Han; Korean J Fam Med 2014;35(4):182-189. Published online July 25, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2014.35.4.182

Abstract
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Background

Different regional fat depots have different effects on lipid and glucose metabolism. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between body fat distribution as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and metabolic risk factors and to disclose whether there is any difference between groups with and without metabolic syndrome (MS).

Methods

A total of 292 participants (98 men, 194 women) over 19 years old underwent whole-body DEXA to evaluate body composition with respect to the whole body, leg, arm, and android regions. Anthropometry and blood tests for metabolic risks were measured.

Results

One hundred and seven participants were diagnosed with MS. The MS group had significantly higher android fat (%) and had lower leg fat (%), arm fat (%), and appendicular (arms + legs) fat (%) than the non-MS group. Android fat (%) had a positive correlation with waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), glucose, log insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and had a negative correlation with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Appendicular fat (%) had a negative correlation with WC, SBP, DBP, glucose, log insulin, HbA1c, and TG, and had a positive correlation with HDL cholesterol. The association of appendicular fat with metabolic risk was consistently observed in non-MS, but the association was not observed except for SBP, glucose and log insulin in MS.

Conclusion

In contrast with the adverse effects of android fat, appendicular fat distribution was associated with decreased risks of MS. The protective effect of appendicular fat against metabolic risk factors in non-MS was less characteristic in MS.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Regional fat distribution and hepatic fibrosis and steatosis severity in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes
Asieh Mansour, Saeed Pourhassan, Hadis Gerami, Mohammad Reza Mohajeri‐Tehrani, Marziye Salahshour, Ali Abbasi, Elham Madreseh, Sayed Mahmoud Sajjadi‐Jazi
Obesity Science & Practice.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Sex-Related Disparities in Prescription Patterns of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Failure
Andreas Hammer, Felix Hofer, Niema Kazem, Lorenz Koller, Eva Steinacher, Ulrike Baumer, Felix Wollmann, Alexandra Kautzky-Willer, Klara Beitl, Franziska Remer, Christian Hengstenberg, Alexander Niessner, Patrick Sulzgruber
Journal of Women's Health.2023; 32(11): 1219. CrossRef
Leg and arm adiposity is inversely associated with diastolic hypertension in young and middle-aged United States adults
Aayush Visaria, David Lo, Pranay Maniar, Bhoomi Dave, Parag Joshi
Clinical Hypertension.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
The Relationship between Fat Mass Percentage and Glucose Metabolism in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Fangfang Chen, Junting Liu, Dongqing Hou, Tao Li, Yiren Chen, Zijun Liao, Lijun Wu
Nutrients.2022; 14(11): 2272. CrossRef
Young, healthy males and females present cardiometabolic protection against the detrimental effects of a 7-day high-fat high-calorie diet
Katie L. Whytock, Sam O. Shepherd, Matt Cocks, Anton J. M. Wagenmakers, Juliette A. Strauss
European Journal of Nutrition.2021; 60(3): 1605. CrossRef
Body composition reference ranges in community‐dwelling adults using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry: the Australian Body Composition (ABC) Study
Ben Kirk, Ebrahim Bani Hassan, Sharon Brennan‐Olsen, Sara Vogrin, Stefanie Bird, Jesse Zanker, Steven Phu, Jarrod D. Meerkin, Steven B. Heymsfield, Gustavo Duque
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.2021; 12(4): 880. CrossRef
Analysis and Reliability of Anthropometric Measurements during Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study in 208 Pregnant Women
Inmaculada Gómez-Carrascosa, María L. Sánchez-Ferrer, Ernesto de la Cruz-Sánchez, Julián J. Arense-Gonzalo, María T. Prieto-Sánchez, Emilia Alfosea-Marhuenda, Miguel A. Iniesta, Jaime Mendiola, Alberto M. Torres-Cantero
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2021; 10(17): 3933. CrossRef
Relationship between fat distribution and cardiometabolic risk in Hispanic girls
Megan Hetherington‐Rauth, Jennifer W. Bea, Vinson R. Lee, Robert M. Blew, Janet L. Funk, Timothy G. Lohman, Scott B. Going
American Journal of Human Biology.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
Specific characterization of regional storage fat in upper and lower limbs of young healthy adults
Junichiro Yamauchi, Toshiyuki Kurihara, Maki Yoshikawa, Sadayoshi Taguchi, Takeshi Hashimoto
SpringerPlus.2015;[Epub] CrossRef
Comments on Statistical Issues in September 2014
Yong Gyu Park
Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2014; 35(5): 257. CrossRef

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10 Crossref

Body Fat Distribution and Serum Leptin Levels according to Amount of Cigarette Smoking in Korean Middle-aged Men.: Keun Mi Lee; J Korean Acad Fam Med 2003;24(6):524-531. Published online June 10, 2003

Abstract
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Background
: The effect of smoking on obesity and fat distribution is controversial. We evaluated the difference of fat distribution and obesity according to the amount of smoking, and the influence of leptin level between obesity and the amount of smoking.

Methods : Subjects were selected among patients who visited the Health Promotion Center of Yeungnam University Hospital for general health evaluation from May to August, 2001. They were aged from thirty to fifty and had no weight change during six months. We excluded the patients who had disease and medication history that can cause weight change. One hundred thirty-five men were included in this study. Smoking status, alcohol and exercise history were reviewed by interview method. Height, weight, waist and hip circumference, %body fat, blood pressure, and blood chemistry were measured. Leptin was measured by a commercial radioimmunoassay (Linco Research, Inc., St., Louis, MO). The differences of obesity parameters and leptin levels according to the amount of smoking were evaluated by analysis of covariance with multiple comparision. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 10.0

Results : Body mass index, %body fat, waist circumference and waist to height ratio (W/H ratio) were significantly increased according to the amount of smoking after adjustment for age, alcohol intake and exercise (P＜0.05). But, BMI, %BF, WC and W/H ratio in mild and mild-moderate smokers were lower than those of the non-or ex-smoker, paradoxically (P＜0.05). Also, serum leptin level was increased according to the increase of amount of smoking, but it had no statistical significance. Over one pack per day smokers had 3.5 times higher risk of hypertension than under one pack per day smokers.

Conclusion : In Korean middle-aged men, obesity index showed difference between the amount of smoking status. BMI, %BF, WC and W/H ratio were significantly higher in heavy smokers than mild and mild-moderate smokers. Though it was not statistically significant, leptin was higher in heavy smokers than in mild and mild- moderate smokers.

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The effects of cigarette smoking on abdominal fatness.: Jong Ho Kim, Hee Young Kim, Chun Hwa Song, Keun Mi Lee, Seung Pil Jeung; J Korean Acad Fam Med 2000;21(9):1172-1179. Published online September 1, 2000

Abstract
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Background
: With increase in the prevalence of obesity in recent years, much interest has focused on obesity nowdays. Inerease in abdominal fatness and there is some possibility that smoking has effect on obesity. We evaluated the influence of smoking on abdominal fatness.

Methods : This study was carried out on 475 individuals who visited the Health Promotion Center in Youngnam University Hospital in May, 1999. The subjects were checked on age, sex, life style (smoking, drinking, physical activity, exercise, etc.), past medical history, blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat percent and other obesity indexes.

Results : In men, waist circumference(P<0.01), body fat percent (P<0.05), waist hip ratio (P<0.01) were significantly increased according to the amount of smoking after adjustment for BMI, age, alcohol intake, exercise and physical activity. But, the waist circumference, waist to hip ratio and percent body fat of mild smoker were rather shorter than that of the non-smoker or on who abstained from smoking.

Conclusion : In men, it seems that obesity index of abdominal fatness may be significantly high in moderate to heavy smokers and low in mild smokers.