• Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Investigating the relationships between body fat distribution, metabolic biomarkers and endocrine regulators in Pacific and New Zealand European women : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

    Icon
    View/Open Full Text
    MicklesonMScThesis.pdf (2.119Mb)
    Export to EndNote
    Abstract
    Background: The burden of overweight and obesity continues to rise throughout the world, including New Zealand (NZ). Obesity prevalence differs among ethnic groups in NZ and this is associated with considerable health inequities. For example, Pacific peoples living in NZ have higher rates of obesity‐related health issues, compared to NZ Europeans. Understanding the link between body composition and metabolic health is essential for the development of more effective preventative and intervention strategies for different population groups, who may have different metabolic disease risk profiles. Aims: This research aims firstly, to investigate metabolic biomarkers and endocrine regulators in two distinct groups of women with different body fat profiles (normal and obese) and of high metabolic disease risk (Pacific women) or moderate metabolic disease risk (NZ European women); and secondly, to compare different approaches of assessing body composition and fat distribution and their relationship with metabolic and endocrine profiles. Design: A cross‐sectional study conducted in 304 Pacific and NZ European women aged 18‐45 years. Anthropometry, a range of body composition and fat distribution measurement approaches, metabolic biomarkers (including lipids, markers of glucose metabolism and inflammation markers) and endocrine regulators (insulin and leptin) will be investigated. Outcomes: Total body fat percentage (BF%) measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) correlated strongly with BF% measured by dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) had weak associations with android fat percentage and BF% measured by DXA, whereas waist circumference (WC) and waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) performed better in this respect. Anthropometric measurements had similar correlations with total body fat percentage and regional fat depots for both ethnic groups. For each ethnicity, women in the high body mass index (BMI) group had higher circulating concentrations of fasting insulin, fasting glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides and total cholesterol to high‐density lipoprotein (TC/HDL) ratios, and lower circulating HDL cholesterol concentrations in comparison with the normal BMI group. Gynoid fat percentage had weak associations with circulating cardio‐metabolic risk factors, including low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), triglycerides, HbA1c, fasting insulin and fasting glucose concentrations. On the other hand, android and visceral fat percentages had stronger, positive associations with these cardio‐metabolic risk factors. Furthermore, BF% measured by DXA and BMI explained a similar amount (57.1% and 49.7% respectively) of the variance in leptin concentrations. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that in a New Zealand population with markedly different body fat profiles, assessment of WC, WHtR and BMI are effective tools for assessing adiposity and the associated cardio‐metabolic disease risk factors in a clinical setting, whereas WHR does not appear to be a useful tool. This thesis research provides strong evidence that these clinically important and effective tools should continue to be used in dietetic practice, across different population groups with different metabolic disease risks and different body fat profiles.
    Date
    2019
    Author
    Mickleson, Laura Jane
    Rights
    The Author
    Publisher
    Massey University
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10179/15599
    Collections
    • Theses and Dissertations
    Metadata
    Show full item record

    Copyright © Massey University
    | Contact Us | Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request | Massey University Privacy Statement
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-2020.1-beta1
     

     

    Tweets by @Massey_Research
    Information PagesContent PolicyDepositing content to MROCopyright and Access InformationDeposit LicenseDeposit License SummaryTheses FAQFile FormatsDoctoral Thesis Deposit

    Browse

    All of MROCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Copyright © Massey University
    | Contact Us | Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request | Massey University Privacy Statement
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-2020.1-beta1