Change of neck circumference in relation to visceral fat area: a Chinese community-based longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Neck circumference (NC) has been positively associated with visceral fat area (VFA) in cross-sectional studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of NC changes on VFA in a Chinese community-based longitudinal cohort.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: Subjects recruited from Shanghai communities were followed up for 1.1-2.9 years. A total of 1421 subjects (men 578, women 843) were included, aged 24-80 years, with an average age of 57.8 ± 7.1 years.

INTERVENTIONS/METHODS: Biochemical and anthropometric measurements, including NC, were obtained from all subjects. VFA was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Abdominal obesity was defined as a VFA ≥ 80 cm.

RESULTS

After a mean follow-up of 2.1 years, the NCs for men and women were 38.1 ± 2.3 cm and 33.8 ± 2.0 cm, respectively, and the average value of VFA was 84.55 (59.83-113.50) cm. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, history of drinking, glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure and blood lipids, individuals who had gained a NC of more than 5% had 1.26 (95% CI: 1.05-1.49) times more visceral adipose tissue at follow-up than NC maintainers (NC change between -2.5% and 2.5%). In the non-abdominal obesity group at baseline (n = 683), after adjusting for confounding factors, changes in NC were associated with abdominal obesity (odd ratio 1.23, 95% CI: 1.09-1.39).

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in NC were positively associated with VFA in a Chinese community-based cohort, suggesting that NC measurement is practical for assessing abdominal obesity.