Obesity assessment methods

Conclusions drawn from available data can often depend on assessment methods and diagnostic criteria at the time of study. Components of obesity (WC) and IR are central to the metabolic syndrome, as defined next. 

The randomized clinical trial is the most reliable method for assessing the efficacy of diet or drug therapy. A number of systematic reviews have been conducted on randomized clinical trials that investigated low-fat diets versus other weight-reducing diets in overweight or obese individuals (Willett, 2002 Kris-Etherton et al., 2002 Pirozzo et al., 2003 Sanders, 2003). 

Wrii sf to hip ratio, This ratio is acquired using a tape measure and by dividing (circumference at the waist) / (circumference at the hip). This method is commonly used by nutrition researchers to assess if a subject has a male-type obesity or female-type obesity. 

While an extensive body of research demonstrates a causal relationship between BAT thermogenesis and energy balance in animals, it is not clear whether defective thermogenesis in BAT is relevant to hiunan obesity.There is histological evidence that BAT is present in adult man as well as in neonates and evidence that BAT exhibits biochemical properties similar to those of animals,but currently there is no method available to directly assess the functional capacity of BAT in man. 

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