Prediction of visceral fat area at the umbilicus level using fat mass of the trunk: The validity of bioelectrical impedance analysis

The aims of this study were to determine the validity of fat mass of the trunk as a predictor for visceral fat area at the umbilicus level and to develop equations to predict visceral fat mass at the umbilicus level using fat mass of the trunk measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The participants were 121 normal Japanese adults (69 males, 52 females). Another 60 volunteer adults (34 males, 26 females) were recruited for examination of cross-validity. Altogether, 41 adults (15 males, 26 females) in the original group and 19 adults (7 males, 12 females) in the cross-validity group received BIA measurement. We measured fat mass by DXA and the BIA system, which was a single-frequency BIA with 8-point contact electrodes, and visceral fat area by computed tomography. We observed significant correlations for visceral fat area in waist circumference (0.56) and fat mass of the trunk measured by DXA (0.64). There was no significant difference in fat mass of the trunk between the DXA and BIA systems, but the BIA system tended to provide an underestimate compared with DXA. With combined fat mass of the trunk measured by DXA and waist circumference as predictors, visceral fat area was estimated by equation (1) (R = 0.87, R(2) = 0.76, standard error of the estimate = 20.9 cm(2)). When substituting fat mass of the trunk measured by BIA into equation (1), there was no significant difference in visceral fat area between the reference and predicted values. An equation using fat mass of the trunk measured by BIA (equation 2) was obtained (R = 0.89, R(2) = 0.78, standard error of the estimate = 20.7 cm(2)), but a systematic error was found for the males. There was cross-validity in both equations. In conclusion, fat mass of the trunk is an effective predictor for the visceral fat area at the umbilicus level. Fat mass of the trunk measured by BIA might be a valid method to predict visceral fat, although further studies with larger samples taking into account the extent and type of obesity are required.     

学校再生的哲学——学习共同体与活动系统

学校改革的草根运动正在席卷日本全土。这种静悄悄的革命是如何生成的,提示了怎样的学校未来的形象呢?作为"学习共同体"的学校创建,在课堂教学的实践中实现着活动性、合作性、反思性的学习;在教职员室里孕育着作为反思性实践家的教师的同僚性;实现着社区的家长与市民参与的合作性学习。其基础就是立足于"倾听他者声音"的对话性沟通的创造。本文阐述了"学习共同体"的改革哲学是基于怎样的教育发展背景产生的,这种实践又将导致怎样的学校改革的愿景。     

"周鲁时代"的终结与《吕氏春秋》的登场

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