ABSTRACT
Visceral fat is technically the excess accumulation of intra-abdominal adipose tissue. This type of fat is stored further underneath the skin than subcutaneous fat and it’s actually wrapped around major organs, including liver, pancreas and kidneys. Studies have shown that visceral fat plays a distinctive and potentially dangerous role affecting hormones function and it is also associated with increased risks of a number of health problems. Many indicators have been used to link visceral fats to chronic diseases including diabetes type 2, CVD, and arthritis. Anthropometric measurements, such as BMI, skinfold thickness, fat percentage, Waist Circumference, Hip Circumference and Waist/Hip Ratio indicating abdominal obesity. Dietary patterns also play a major role in overweight and obesity and in the amount of visceral fat accumulated in the body. The aim of the study was to find the association between visceral fat and chronic disease and also to identify the link between dietary patterns and chronic diseases. 61 males and 67 females participated in this study. Their anthropometric measurements were recorded together with their lipid profile and their energy intake and the number of servings of fruits, vegetables and dairy were also registered. The results have shown that females had higher BMI, waist and hip circumference, values of LDL, TG, TC and HDL than males and difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Waist/Hip ratio was higher in females but skinfold thickness was higher in males. Energy intake was almost similar in males (2800 kcal) and females (2700 kcal) but females consumed more calories from CHO and fewer calories from protein and fat. They also consumed less fruits and dairy products. However, they consumed similar number of servings of vegetables. More females were diagnosed with chronic diseases such as diabetes, CVD, hypertension and arthritis comparing to their males counterpart.