Cure8 research brief
Imaging found increased visceral fat in children with Crohn's despite normal BMI, which could reveal inflammation-related risk not apparent from weight alone. Visceral adiposity was linked to markers of inflammation and disease duration, so it may be a useful marker for clinicians and researchers.
Pediatric IBD patients and their caregivers, pediatric gastroenterologists and clinicians who monitor growth and body composition, and researchers studying IBD-related metabolic and immune pathways.
The study recruited 25 children with Crohn's disease and 8 healthy controls and measured abdominal fat volumes with MRI/MRS, plus dietary, adipokine, and metabolic profiles. Children with Crohn's had higher visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) volumes, lower muscle measures, but normal BMI-z and liver fat.
VAT was associated with male sex, disease duration, and CRP; SCAT with leptin; and VAT with triglycerides. Authors describe the pattern as "Thin on Outside Fat on the Inside Crohn's associated Obesity (TOFICO)."
Results come from a small clinical study (25 CD patients, 8 controls) and are presented in the article abstract. Larger studies are needed to confirm TOFICO as a reproducible clinical marker and to determine implications for management.
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
Funding disclosed by the source: Research and Development Department of Chelsea and Westminster NHS trust
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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