Relation between Chubby Cheeks and Visceral Fat

Abstract

To the Editor: An upper-body distribution of fat, especially with increased visceral fat, is more predictive of the metabolic complications of obesity than is the degree of overweight.1 Insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension are associated with upper-body and visceral obesity. We noted that patients with chubby facial cheeks tended to have upper-body obesity and hypothesized that cheek and visceral fat might accumulate in concert. To assess this observation, we measured cheek (buccal), visceral, and abdominal subcutaneous fat in 25 consecutive patients who underwent computed tomographic (CT) scanning of the head and abdomen for clinical purposes within . . .