Abstract

Author(s): Espírito Santo de Assunção, Isabelle Priscila1; Melo, Nathalia Caroline de Oliveira2; Floro Arcoverde, Gabriela Maria Pereira2; Cordeiro da Silva, Jéssica1; Silva de Paula, Jéssica Roberta1; Tavares de Sá, Cristiane Maria Araújo3

Background: Non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis is characterized by the buildup of triglycerides in hepatocytes, surpassing 5 to 10% of the total weight of the organ. Excess abdominal fat is related to excess fat in the neck region, which is responsible for a greater systemic release of free fatty acids in comparison to the visceral region. However, although the measurement of neck circumference is used for the evaluation of excess body fat and is an efficient manner for identifying obese individuals.

Objective: Evaluate the usefulness of the use of neck circumference as an anthropometric tool for the nutritional assessment of individuals with Non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital in the city of Brazil, between July-December 2016. 49 male and female patient were analyzed. Sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and nutritional data were collected. The statistical analysis was performed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences.

Results: The group of patients with larger neck circumference values had larger mean values for waist-to-height ratio (p<0.01), body mass index (p<0.001), waist circumference (p<0.001) and arm circumference (p<0.01). Neck circumference was also correlated with waist circumference (p<0.001), body mass index (p<0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (p=0.003) and arm circumference (p<0.001).

Discussion: Based on the neck circumference, 51% of the sample was classified as obese, which is in agreement with findings described by Frizon and Boscain who evaluated 155 healthy individuals in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and found that 55% had an increased NC (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: Neck circumference is a simple, reliable, lowcost tool that can be easily used in clinical practice and is associated with abdominal obesity, proving to be a good method of anthropometric evaluation for patients with Non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis.