Assessing the Patient with Abdominal Obesity: Metabolic and Nutritional Factors

Background: Abdominal obesity is a confirmed cardio-vascular risk factor and the elements influencing it are subject for research and intervention. The available nutritional evaluation methods are time consuming, subjective and a standardized approach is missing. Aim: Standardized evaluation of patients with abdominal obesity. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study on a convenience sample of 85 subjects who presented in the Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of the Emergency Mures County Hospital between February - April 2013. Variables: age, sex, environment, BMI, waist, blood glucose, triglycerides, HDL-Cholesterol, blood pressure. Each patient filled a food frequency questionnaire. Results: None of the subjects had a “normal” food pyramid. Sex has no influence on the food pyramid. The meat and protein food group is the only one significantly influenced by the environment (p = 0.04). Patients with dyslipidemia consume lower amounts of sweets (1.13 vs. 1.83 servings, p = 0.007). Patients requiring metabolic treatment have significant higher waist values (101.32 vs. 93.07 cm, p=0.03). Patients with simple abdominal obesity consume significant lower amounts of meat and protein and higher amounts of fruit and vegetables. Conclusions: A standardized approach to the patient with abdominal obesity using nutritional assessment tools and metabolic evaluation helps to identify those at risk and to give more tailored recommendation