Measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue topography (SAT-Top) by means of a new optical device, LIPOMETER, and the evaluation of standard factor coefficients in healthy subjects

Abstract

The quantification of obesity in respect to subcutaneous adipose tissue and fat distribution is a matter of interest. We recently reported on a new optical device, LIPOMETER, and its ability to measure the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue and its advantages compared with other methods. To describe the subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution of the human body in a precise, reproducible, and comparable manner, 15 well-defined body sites distributed from neck to calf on the right body side were used. This set of sites defines subcutaneous adipose tissue topography (SAT-Top). To visualize SAT-Top for subjects or groups, special SAT-Top plots were used. Subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution can be recognized easily with these techniques. SAT-Top of 590 healthy men and women was measured. Factor analysis was used to extract the essential information from these 590*15 intercorrelated single measurements and to provide standard factor coefficients for later applications. As an example of how to use the results of factor analysis, the strong SAT-Top deviation of women with clinically proven type-2 diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) from healthy controls is described. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:231–239, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.