Cutoff values for central obesity in Chinese based on mesenteric fat thickness.

Aims: Sonographic measurement of mesenteric fat thickness (MFT) is a novel, accurate and simple tool to evaluate regional distribution of obesity. We used MFT to determine the optimal waist circumference (WC) values and associated risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Methods: 282 healthy Chinese (age 41.8+/-7.4 years, BMI 23.8+/-3.3 kg/m(2)) was assessed. High MFT was defined as mean+1 SD of the cohort. We compared the CVD risks including fatty liver amongst subjects with normal waist, central pre-obesity and central obesity.
Results: WC of 84.6 cm in men and 75.7 cm in women were the optimal cutoff values to predict high MFT with ROC analysis. Using WC cutoff values > or =85-90 cm and > or =90 cm to define central pre-obesity and obesity in men (> or =75-80 cm and > or =80 cm in women), both central obesity and pre-obesity had higher MFT and CVD risk than those with normal waist. The frequencies of fatty liver in these 3 categories were 15.9%, 56.7% and 96.7% in men and 6.9%. 17.9% and 63.2% in women (p<0.001 for trend).
Conclusion: In addition to central obesity, "central pre-obesity" identifies subjects who harbor high CVD risks, fatty liver and excess visceral fat.