Person: Pou, Karla Michelle
Loading...
Email Address
AA Acceptance Date
Birth Date
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Job Title
Last Name
Pou
First Name
Karla Michelle
Name
Pou, Karla Michelle
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Publication Patterns of Abdominal Fat Distribution(American Diabetes Association, 2009) Pou, Karla Michelle; Massaro, Joseph M.; Hoffmann, Udo; Lieb, Kathrin; Vasan, Ramachandran S.; O'Donnell, Christopher; Fox, CarolineOBJECTIVE—The prevalence of abdominal obesity exceeds that of general obesity. We sought to determine the prevalence of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral obesity and to characterize the different patterns of fat distribution in a community-based sample. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Participants from the Framingham Heart Study (n = 3,348, 48% women, mean age 52 years) underwent multidetector computed tomography; subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volumes were assessed. Sex-specific high SAT and VAT definitions were based on 90th percentile cut points from a healthy referent sample. Metabolic risk factors were examined in subgroups with elevated SAT and VAT. RESULTS—The prevalence of high SAT was 30% (women) and 31% (men) and that for high VAT was 44% (women) and 42% (men). Overall, 27.8% of the sample was discordant for high SAT and high VAT: 19.9% had SAT less than but VAT equal to or greater than the 90th percentile, and 7.9% had SAT greater than but VAT less than the 90th percentile. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher among women and men with SAT less than the 90th percentile and high VAT than in those with high SAT but VAT less than the 90th percentile, despite lower BMI and waist circumference. Findings were similar for hypertension, elevated triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS—Nearly one-third of our sample has abdominal subcutaneous obesity, and <40% have visceral obesity. Clinical measures of BMI and waist circumference may misclassify individuals in terms of VAT and metabolic risk.Publication Association of Lifestyle Factors With Abdominal Subcutaneous and Visceral Adiposity(American Diabetes Association, 2009) Molenaar, Esther A.; Massaro, Joseph M.; Jacques, Paul F.; Ellison, R. Curtis; Pencina, Karol; Shadwick, Steven D.; Vasan, Ramachandran S.; Pou, Karla Michelle; Hoffmann, Udo; O'Donnell, Christopher; Fox, CarolineOBJECTIVE— The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between lifestyle factors and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in a community-based setting. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— Cross-sectional associations between lifestyle factors (dietary quality, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and SAT and VAT volumes were examined in 2,926 Framingham Heart Study participants (48.6% women, aged 50 ± 10 years). RESULTS— Diets consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Adherence Index and greater physical activity were inversely associated with SAT and VAT (P < 0.0001–0.002). In men, former smoking was associated with higher SAT (2,743 ± 56 cm\(^3\)) compared with current smokers (2,629 ± 88 cm\(^3\)) or those who never smoked (2,538 ± 44 cm\(^3\); P = 0.02). Both former and current smoking was associated with higher VAT (P = 0.03 [women]; P = 0.005 [men]). Women with high amounts of alcohol intake (>7 drinks/week) had lower SAT (2,869 ± 106 cm\(^3\)) than those who consumed less alcohol (3,184 ± 44 cm\(^3\), P = 0.006); significant differences in VAT were not observed (P = 0.18). In men, high amounts of alcohol intake (>14 drinks/week) were associated with higher VAT (2,272 ± 59 cm\(^3\)) compared with intake of ≤14 drinks/week (2,139 ± 25 cm\(^3\), P = 0.04), whereas SAT did not differ (P = 0.91). An increasing number of healthy lifestyle factors were associated with lower SAT and VAT volumes (all P < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS— Adherence to recommended dietary guidelines and physical activity are associated with lower SAT and VAT volumes. However, both smoking and high alcohol intake are differentially associated with VAT volumes. Further research to uncover the putative mechanisms is warranted.