Association Between Body Mass Index and Body Fat Compartments in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55892/jrg.v9i20.3080Keywords:
Body mass index, Hepatic steatosis, Intra-abdominal fat, Obesity, UltrasonographyAbstract
Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is currently the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and is strongly associated with obesity and body fat distribution. Body mass index (BMI) is widely used to assess adiposity; however, it does not distinguish between different fat compartments, such as subcutaneous fat (SCF) and intra-abdominal fat (IAF), which have distinct metabolic implications. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between BMI and abdominal fat compartments, measured by ultrasonography, with the presence and severity of metabolic hepatic steatosis. This was an observational, cross-sectional, and prospective study conducted at an ultrasound referral center in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, between July 2024 and July 2025, involving 205 adult patients. Hepatic steatosis was identified in 45.4% of the sample. A progressive increase in BMI, SCF, and IAF was observed according to the severity of steatosis, with a statistically significant association (p < 0.0001), where IAF showed the strongest association with disease severity. In conclusion, BMI and abdominal fat, particularly intra-abdominal fat, are associated with the presence and severity of MASLD.
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