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Seven-year stability of indicators of obesity and adipose tissue distribution in the Canadian population^1,2,3

Background: The prevention of obesity appears to be a better approach than treatment; thus, the prediction of future obesity from current status is important.

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the stability of adiposity and adipose tissue distribution (ATD) in the Canadian population.

Design: The sample included 1048 males and 1063 females aged 7–69 y at baseline from the Campbell's Survey, a 7-y follow-up of the Canada Fitness Survey. Indicators of adiposity included body mass index (BMI), sum of 5 skinfold thicknesses (SF5), and waist circumference (Waist), whereas indicators of ATD included the ratio of trunk to extremity skinfold thicknesses adjusted for SF5 (TER_adj), and Waist adjusted for BMI (Waist_adj).

Results: Interage correlations ranged from 0.53 to 0.91 for BMI, from -0.09 to 0.72 for SF5, from 0.24 to 0.89 for Waist, from 0.23 to 0.73 for TER_adj, and from 0.18 to 0.77 for Waist_adj. Correlations for BMI were higher than for SF5, suggesting that fat-free mass may contribute to the stability of BMI. Although lower than those for BMI, correlations for indicators of ATD were significant, indicating a propensity to retain an android or gynoid pattern. Furthermore, the average percentage of participants remaining in the lower or upper quintiles for the various indicators ranged from 37.8% to 66.7% in males and from 47.0% to 65.3% in females, indicating that those in the lower and upper portions of the distribution tend to remain there.

Conclusion: Obesity and ATD showed significant stability over 7 y in the Canadian population.

Key Words: Fatness • tracking • fat distribution • skinfold thicknesses • subcutaneous tissue • body mass index • Canada Fitness Survey • Campbell's Survey

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