In this cross-sectional study of 188 women and 133 men in which the adipocyte size from three depots was measured (subcutaneous abdominal, femoral, and gluteal adipocytes), Tchoukalova et al. sought to determine the best predictors of adipocyte size by measuring several indices of body fat distribution as well as the extent to which these measurements can influence adipocyte size. Body fat percentage was found to be the best predictor of adipocyte size in all three depots. Body fat percentage and other indices of body fat distribution (body mass index, intra-abdominal (visceral) fat area, subcutaneous abdominal fat area, and lower body fat) predicted abdominal adipocyte size whereas body fat percentage and intra-abdominal fat area predicted gluteal adipocyte size. Body fat percentage was found to be the only significant predictor of femoral adipocyte size. Another interesting finding is that adipocytes from different regions tended to be more similar than they were different, suggesting that adipocyte size in each subcutaneous fat depot may be globally regulated. Given the relative importance of adipocyte size in determining adipocyte function, these results suggest that measuring certain indices of body fat distribution could indirectly provide information about adipocyte function.
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