Anthropometric and Clinical Findings in Obese Japanese: The Saku Control Obesity Program (SCOP)

BACKGROUND: Japan has entered the epidemic of obesity. To clarify the contributing factors to the development of metabolic syndrome triggered by visceral fat obesity and to investigate the effectiveness of a weight-loss program, we launched a new intervention program for obese people. METHODS: Japanese subjects with high body mass index (BMI > 28.3 kg/m²) were selected for a weight-loss program from those who had undergone a medical checkup at the Saku Central Hospital. The baseline anthropometric and clinical findings of the participants were analyzed.RESULTS: At baseline, 235 subjects (116 men and 119 women) participated in this program. The mean weight, waist circumference, and visceral fat area were 86.4 ± 11.8 kg, 101.5 ± 8.7 cm, and 159.0 ± 54.1 cm² in men and 75.2 ± 9.5 kg, 103.7 ± 8.3 cm, and 129.8 ± 47.0 cm² in women, respectively. Using the Japanese diagnostic criteria, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 62.9% in men and 51.3% in women. Leptin, c-peptide, and insulin levels tended to increase with increasing numbers of metabolic risk factors in men. In women, c-peptide and free fatty acid levels tended to increase with increasing numbers of these factors, but adiponectin decreased dose-dependently with increasing numbers of factors. CONCLUSIONS: More than half the subjects were founded to meet the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Immediate intervention to lose weight and to improve other risk factors of metabolic syndrome is necessary in such seriously obese people.