Table 5.

Subcutaneous adipose tissue distribution across BMI categories in adults stratified for sex and age

Abdomen
Women					Men
Age/BMI	sSAT (mm)	dSAT (mm)	tSAT (mm)	sSAT/dSAT	Age/BMI	sSAT (mm)	dSAT (mm)	tSAT (mm)	sSAT/dSAT
18–25 years					18–23 years
Normal weight	7.22 ± 2.54 (n = 100)	8.84 ± 5.31 (n = 72)	13.58 ± 7.71 (n = 100)	1.07 ± 0.49 (n = 72)	Normal weight	5.86 ± 2.14 (n = 176)	7.64 ± 5.73 (n = 84)	9.51 ± 7.12 (n = 176)	1.10 ± 0.43 (n = 84)
Overweight	13.53 ± 4.66 (n = 18)	22.82 ± 7.01 (n = 18)	36.35 ± 9.54 (n = 18)	0.63 ± 0.22 (n = 18)	Overweight	8.06 ± 2.75 (n = 88)	14.20 ± 10.00 (n = 78)	20.64 ± 12.50 (n = 88)	0.83 ± 0.53 (n = 78)
Obesity	14.15 ± 2.10 (n = 8)	42.53 ± 7.36 (n = 8)	56.68 ± 6.13 (n = 8)	0.35 ± 0.12 (n = 8)	Obesity	13.02 ± 3.81 (n = 9)	34.52 ± 15.65 (n = 9)	47.54 ± 16.30 (n = 9)	0.47 ± 0.26 (n = 9)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
26–38 years					24–31 years
Normal weight	8.95 ± 4.34 (n = 91)	10.10 ± 4.88 (n = 76)	17.38 ± 8.68 (n = 91)	1.02 ± 0.48 (n = 76)	Normal weight	6.23 ± 1.87 (n = 169)	6.65 ± 4.01 (n = 134)	11.50 ± 5.47 (n = 169)	1.15 ± 0.52 (n = 134)
Overweight	11.53 ± 4.21 (n = 22)	18.86 ± 7.51 (n = 22)	30.39 ± 10.37 (n = 22)	0.69 ± 0.31 (n = 22)	Overweight	7.85 ± 1.96 (n = 72)	11.59 ± 6.30 (n = 68)	18.79 ± 7.89 (n = 72)	0.84 ± 0.39 (n = 68)
Obesity	16.53 ± 7.17 (n = 12)	31.07 ± 6.16 (n = 12)	47.61 ± 6.90 (n = 12)	0.57 ± 0.32 (n = 12)	Obesity	11.27 ± 3.22 (n = 43)	21.91 ± 8.10 (n = 43)	33.18 ± 8.97 (n = 43)	0.59 ± 0.27 (n = 43)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
39–49 years					32–45 years
Normal weight	7.97 ± 2.41 (n = 60)	12.77 ± 5.46 (n = 56)	19.90 ± 7.18 (n = 60)	0.78 ± 0.43 (n = 56)	Normal weight	6.29 ± 1.61 (n = 108)	8.00 ± 4.53 (n = 83)	12.44 ± 6.09 (n = 108)	0.98 ± 0.46 (n = 83)
Overweight	11.27 ± 3.60 (n = 40)	19.72 ± 8.78 (n = 40)	31.00 ± 9.39 (n = 40)	0.77 ± 0.63 (n = 40)	Overweight	9.17 ± 2.75 (n = 120)	13.73 ± 6.05 (n = 118)	22.67 ± 7.73 (n = 120)	0.75 ± 0.25 (n = 118)
Obesity	15.43 ± 5.80 (n = 24)	28.23 ± 7.61 (n = 24)	43.66 ± 7.88 (n = 24)	0.62 ± 0.38 (n = 24)	Obesity	11.16 ± 4.11 (n = 38)	27.63 ± 9.85 (n = 38)	38.79 ± 10.51 (n = 38)	0.46 ± 0.22 (n = 38)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	0.383	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
50–89 years					46–84 years
Normal weight	8.89 ± 3.31 (n = 49)	13.97 ± 5.36 (n = 48)	22.67 ± 7.83 (n = 49)	0.71 ± 0.28 (n = 48)	Normal weight	7.26 ± 2.56 (n = 148)	9.88 ± 6.48 (n = 140)	16.61 ± 8.49 (n = 148)	0.95 ± 0.41 (n = 140)
Overweight	10.26 ± 2.85 (n = 52)	17.68 ± 6.80 (n = 52)	27.94 ± 8.02 (n = 52)	0.65 ± 0.25 (n = 52)	Overweight	8.99 ± 2.27 (n = 96)	16.91 ± 7.08 (n = 94)	25.55 ± 8.33 (n = 96)	0.65 ± 0.33 (n = 94)
Obesity	11.84 ± 3.78 (n = 37)	30.65 ± 8.89 (n = 37)	42.49 ± 8.72 (n = 37)	0.44 ± 0.24 (n = 37)	Obesity	10.97 ± 2.38 (n = 50)	34.44 ± 10.99 (n = 50)	45.42 ± 11.72 (n = 50)	0.35 ± 0.14 (n = 50)
p	0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
Thigh
Women					Men
18–27 years					18–22 years
Normal weight	6.34 ± 1.72 (n = 215)	8.91 ± 6.71 (n = 210)	15.04 ± 7.92 (n = 215)	0.87 ± 0.44 (n = 210)	Normal weight	4.43 ± 1.32 (n = 166)	4.26 ± 2.30 (n = 85)	6.61 ± 3.28 (n = 166)	1.12 ± 0.63 (n = 85)
Overweight	7.84 ± 1.44 (n = 41)	14.37 ± 7.54 (n = 41)	22.21 ± 8.33 (n = 41)	0.61 ± 0.22 (n = 41)	Overweight	5.13 ± 1.18 (n = 64)	5.89 ± 3.46 (n = 54)	10.10 ± 4.43 (n = 64)	1.03 ± 0.47 (n = 54)
Obesity	8.78 ± 2.64 (n = 14)	17.09 ± 9.67 (n = 14)	25.87 ± 11.68 (n = 14)	0.59 ± 0.21 (n = 14)	Obesity	7.67 ± 1.00 (n = 9)	12.25 ± 2.51 (n = 9)	19.92 ± 3.16 (n = 9)	0.56 ± 1.13 (n = 9)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	0.018
28–40 years					23–30 years
Normal weight	6.29 ± 1.45 (n = 180)	8.60 ± 4.05 (n = 180)	14.89 ± 4.91 (n = 180)	0.79 ± 0.28 (n = 180)	Normal weight	4.44 ± 1.16 (n = 192)	3.95 ± 1.73 (n = 99)	6.48 ± 2.64 (n = 192)	1.17 ± 0.46 (n = 99)
Overweight	7.91 ± 1.72 (n = 52)	13.95 ± 7.03 (n = 52)	21.86 ± 7.79 (n = 52)	0.64 ± 0.29 (n = 52)	Overweight	5.08 ± 1.64 (n = 75)	4.71 ± 1.95 (n = 61)	8.91 ± 3.07 (n = 75)	1.08 ± 0.37 (n = 61)
Obesity	7.85 ± 2.32 (n = 25)	16.07 ± 4.20 (n = 25)	23.92 ± 3.70 (n = 25)	0.54 ± 0.32 (n = 25)	Obesity	5.44 ± 1.53 (n = 33)	7.97 ± 3.19 (n)33)	13.41 ± 3.93 (n = 33)	0.72 ± 0.47 (n = 33)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
41–50 years					31–45 years
Normal weight	6.49 ± 1.43 (n = 127)	9.75 ± 5.93 (n = 126)	16.17 ± 6.71 (n = 127)	0.75 ± 0.30 (n = 126)	Normal weight	4.33 ± 1.29 (n = 117)	3.65 ± 1.56 (n = 45)	5.73 ± 2.31 (n = 117)	1.21 ± 0.36 (n = 45)
Overweight	7.10 ± 1.48 (n = 107)	12.52 ± 4.69 (n = 107)	19.63 ± 5.63 (n = 107)	0.60 ± 0.18 (n = 107)	Overweight	4.77 ± 1.50 (n = 130)	4.62 ± 1.54 (n = 113)	8.79 ± 2.73 (n = 130)	1.05 ± 0.48 (n = 113)
Obesity	8.46 ± 2.77 (n = 48)	16.20 ± 5.70 (n = 48)	24.66 ± 7.55 (n = 48)	0.52 ± 0.17 (n = 48)	Obesity	5.52 ± 1.07 (n = 46)	9.74 ± 3.19 (n = 46)	15.26 ± 3.85 (n = 46)	0.60 ± 0.22 (n = 46)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
51–89 years					46–84 years
Normal weight	6.57 ± 1.72 (n = 103)	10.45 ± 6.55 (n = 102)	16.92 ± 7.57 (n = 103)	0.72 ± 0.28 (n = 102)	Normal weight	4.60 ± 1.09 (n = 142)	4.08 ± 2.85 (n = 48)	5.98 ± 2.94 (n = 142)	1.34 ± 0.55 (n = 48)
Overweight	7.34 ± 1.70 (n = 106)	12.05 ± 4.47 (n = 105)	19.35 ± 5.31 (n = 106)	0.65 ± 0.21 (n = 105)	Overweight	4.93 ± 1.26 (n = 91)	4.89 ± 2.80 (n = 64)	8.37 ± 3.77 (n = 91)	1.08 ± 0.43 (n = 64)
Obesity	7.45 ± 1.67 (n = 67)	15.11 ± 4.66 (n = 67)	22.57 ± 5.65 (n = 67)	0.51 ± 0.14 (n = 67)	Obesity	5.39 ± 1.33 (n = 47)	7.11 ± 2.50 (n = 44)	12.05 ± 3.25 (n = 47)	0.80 ± 0.33 (n = 44)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
Hip					Chest
18–33 years					18–24 years
Normal weight	7.25 ± 2.34 (n = 109)	7.54 ± 4.76 (n = 32)	9.46 ± 5.29 (n = 109)	1.18 ± 0.52 (n = 32)	Normal weight	3.73 ± 1.35 (n = 126)	5.30 ± 1.73 (n = 2)	3.82 ± 1.65 (n = 126)	1.20 ± 0.32 (n = 2)
Overweight	10.84 ± 4.03 (n = 50)	11.69 ± 4.74 (n = 40)	20.19 ± 6.37 (n = 50)	0.89 ± 0.32 (n = 40)	Overweight	5.48 ± 1.89 (n = 73)	5.51 ± 2.22 (n = 24)	7.29 ± 4.11 (n = 73)	1.34 ± 0.42 (n = 24)
Obesity	11.24 ± 5.13 (n = 18)	15.75 ± 5.44 (n = 17)	26.11 ± 6.90 (n = 18)	0.70 ± 0.27 (n = 17)	Obesity	9.32 ± 1.58 (n = 3)	12.48 ± 1.66 (n = 3)	21.80 ± 2.14 (n = 3)	0.75 ± 0.17 (n = 3)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	0.077
34–43 years					25–31 years
Normal weight	7.56 ± 2.19 (n = 118)	7.23 ± 3.40 (n = 46)	10.38 ± 4.63 (n = 118)	1.20 ± 0.59 (n = 46)	Normal weight	4.58 ± 1.42 (n = 136)	4.65 ± 1.83 (n = 19)	5.23 ± 2.63 (n = 136)	1.44 ± 0.60 (n = 19)
Overweight	10.62 ± 3.22 (n = 21)	9.38 ± 3.33 (n = 18)	18.66 ± 4.41 (n = 21)	1.22 ± 0.59 (n = 18)	Overweight	5.74 ± 1.69 (n = 51)	5.25 ± 2.76 (n = 13)	7.08 ± 3.58 (n = 51)	1.29 ± 0.42 (n = 51)
Obesity	13.30 ± 3.82 (n = 16)	12.33 ± 4.82 (n = 11)	21.78 ± 5.29 (n = 16)	1.06 ± 0.52 (n = 11)	Obesity	8.06 ± 1.68 (n = 15)	9.57 ± 6.41 (n = 14)	17.00 ± 7.45 (n = 15)	1.04 ± 0.42 (n = 14)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	0.735	p	< 0.001	0.003	< 0.001	0.089
44–51 years					32–46 years
Normal weight	8.55 ± 2.45 (n = 76)	8.34 ± 4.24 (n = 42)	13.16 ± 6.10 (n = 76)	1.22 ± 0.60 (n = 42)	Normal weight	4.52 ± 1.83 (n = 115)	4.63 ± 2.92 (n = 22)	5.41 ± 3.53 (n = 115)	1.38 ± 0.35 (n = 22)
Overweight	9.88 ± 2.99 (n = 71)	10.75 ± 4.37 (n = 63)	19.42 ± 5.10 (n = 71)	0.94 ± 0.36 (n = 63)	Overweight	6.33 ± 1.94 (n = 104)	5.38 ± 2.58 (n = 67)	9.79 ± 4.29 (n = 104)	1.35 ± 0.50 (n = 67)
Obesity	10.87 ± 2.97 (n = 42)	13.91 ± 4.70 (n = 42)	24.78 ± 5.88 (n = 42)	0.85 ± 0.34 (n = 42)	Obesity	7.29 ± 1.44 (n = 31)	8.68 ± 3.49 (n = 31)	15.97 ± 3.81 (n = 31)	0.90 ± 0.29 (n = 31)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
52–74 years					47–74 years
Normal weight	8.29 ± 2.70 (n = 75)	6.45 ± 3.85 (n = 31)	10.96 ± 4.88 (n = 75)	1.43 ± 0.61 (n = 31)	Normal weight	4.26 ± 1.66 (n = 134)	5.25 ± 3.43 (n = 34)	5.59 ± 3.97 (n = 134)	1.23 ± 0.42 (n = 34)
Overweight	8.59 ± 2.64 (n = 84)	11.68 ± 4.96 (n = 77)	20.30 ± 6.08 (n = 84)	0.89 ± 0.39 (n = 77)	Overweight	6.93 ± 1.57 (n = 75)	10.87 ± 6.95 (n = 60)	15.63 ± 8.58 (n = 75)	0.91 ± 0.47 (n = 60)
Obesity	11.49 ± 4.27 (n = 41)	12.94 ± 4.23 (n = 38)	23.49 ± 4.81 (n = 41)	0.93 ± 0.53 (n = 38)	Obesity	7.52 ± 1.38 (n = 27)	11.79 ± 5.42 (n = 27)	19.31 ± 6.57 (n = 27)	0.72 ± 0.24 (n = 27)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
Triceps
18–33 years
Normal weight	6.40 ± 1.70 (n = 125)	7.42 ± 2.73 (n = 111)	13.00 ± 3.61 (n = 125)	0.93 ± 0.45 (n = 111)
Overweight	7.75 ± 2.62 (n = 51)	12.03 ± 3.40 (n = 51)	19.78 ± 3.61 (n = 51)	0.71 ± 0.48 (n = 51)
Obesity	8.27 ± 2.47 (n = 28)	14.79 ± 5.72 (n = 28)	23.06 ± 7.60 (n = 28)	0.60 ± 0.21 (n = 28)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
34–44 years
Normal weight	6.49 ± 1.62 (n = 130)	8.65 ± 3.40 (n = 129)	15.07 ± 4.29 (n = 130)	0.83 ± 0.37 (n = 129)
Overweight	7.38 ± 1.52 (n = 50)	12.12 ± 3.39 (n = 50)	19.50 ± 4.38 (n = 50)	0.63 ± 0.17 (n = 50)
Obesity	7.64 ± 1.62 (n = 28)	13.58 ± 2.66 (n = 28)	21.22 ± 3.83 (n = 28)	0.54 ± 0.14 (n = 28)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
45–53 years
Normal weight	6.53 ± 1.30 (n = 79)	8.59 ± 2.51 (n = 78)	15.02 ± 3.16 (n = 79)	0.79 ± 0.25 (n = 78)
Overweight	7.70 ± 1.44 (n = 86)	13.49 ± 3.66 (n = 86)	21.19 ± 4.33 (n = 86)	0.59 ± 0.19 (n = 86)
Obesity	7.93 ± 1.94 (n = 45)	14.40 ± 3.35 (n = 45)	22.33 ± 3.69 (n = 45)	0.58 ± 0.24 (n = 45)
p	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
54–89 years
Normal weight	6.46 ± 1.35 (n = 80)	9.16 ± 3.98 (n = 80)	15.27 ± 4.86 (n = 80)	0.81 ± 0.47 (n = 80)
Overweight	7.07 ± 1.69 (n = 78)	11.42 ± 4.11 (n = 78)	18.49 ± 5.05 (n = 78)	0.68 ± 0.29 (n = 78)
Obesity	7.53 ± 1.72 (n = 52)	14.22 ± 4.06 (n = 52)	21.75 ± 4.47 (n = 52)	0.57 ± 0.25 (n = 52)
p	0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001	0.001

Data are expressed as mean ± SD. Difference between groups were compared by one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni test as post-hoc test. A p value in bold type denotes a significant difference (p < 0.05)

Abbreviations: body mass index, BMI; superficial subcutaneous adipose tissue, sSAT; deep subcutaneous adipose tissue, dSAT; total subcutaneous adipose tissue, tSAT