Longitudinal sonographic assessment of abdominal fat distribution from 2 to 5 years of age

Background To better understand children’s adipose tissue (AT) development and distribution, longitudinal data from direct assessment methods are valuable. Previously, we reported sonographic data on abdominal subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat areas ≤1 year of age. Methods Sonographic measurements were annually pursued to assess the development of fat compartments in 2–5 year-old children. The effect of sex and correlations with comprehensive anthropometry (e.g., BMI percentiles, skinfold thickness (SFT) measurements, and waist circumference) are presented. Results Subcutaneous fat areas increased modestly and were significantly greater in females at each time point investigated. Preperitoneal fat area increased significantly over time (all P values