Association of a lifestyle risk index with visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in the German National Cohort (NAKO)

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study examined a Lifestyle Risk Factor Index (LSRI) in relation to adiposity measures including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in the German National Cohort (NAKO). METHODS: Based on self-reports at baseline among 30,920 of > 205,000 NAKO eligible participants with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, one point each for not smoking, adhering to ≥ 3/7 diet recommendations, consuming ≤ 1 (women)/≤ 2 (men) alcoholic drinks/day, and ≥ 150 min/week physical activity was assigned. VAT volume, obtained from whole-body MRI at 3T, was analyzed by deep learning-based image segmentation. General linear models estimated adjusted geometric mean adiposity measures by LSRI and stratified analyses by sex and BMI. RESULTS: Of 18,508 participants aged 48.2 ± 12.2 years, the respective proportions for 0/1, 2, 3, and 4 LSRI points were 7%, 24%, 51%, and 18%. Participants with LSRI scores of 4 versus 0/1 had lower adjusted geometric mean volumes of VAT (2.3; 95% CI 2.2, 2.3 vs. 3.0; 95% CI 2.9, 3.1 L). These differences were slightly attenuated after adding BMI. This association was weaker for individuals with obesity than normal/overweight. CONCLUSION: A combination of lifestyle factors appears to be associated with lower VAT volume, but an elevated BMI may have a greater influence on VAT accumulation than lifestyle behaviors alone.