Ultrasonographic measurement of abdominal and gluteal-femoral fat thickness as a predictor for android/gynoid ratio

Objective: To evaluate the use of ultrasonography (US) as an alternative to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to predict the percentage ratio of android/gynoid (A/G) fat mass. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Twenty-eight participants included in the study underwent whole-body DXA examinations and the A/G ratio was calculated. Soft-tissue US was performed in several standardised anthropometric areas of the body. Correlation analysis between abdominal and gluteal-femoral fat thickness based on US and A/G ratio was conducted using the Pearson or Spearman test depending on the data normality. Multiple regression analysis using the backward stepwise method was performed to establish an equation for estimating the A/G ratio. Results: There was a strong and significant correlation between fat thickness in the six anthropometric areas and the A/G ratio in female participants. The analysis revealed three anthropometric areas: upper abdomen (S4), lower abdomen (S5), and mid-xiphoid-umbilical region (S7), that can accurately predict the A/G ratio by 82.3%. (P < 0.05). However, no such correlation was found in male participants. Conclusions: US measurement of fat thickness can predict A/G ratio in the female population. However, this method is not recommended for men.