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Accumulated visceral and subcutaneous fat masses were measured with computed
tomography (CT) in cats with various body condition scores (BCS) from 5/9 to 9/9.
BCS does not always reflect visceral fat accumulation which induces pro-inflammatory
reactions. Obese cats with accumulated visceral fat showed low plasma adiponectin
and high serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations, an inflammatory marker. Based on
the above results, new diagnostic criteria for obesity disease were established as
follows. For overweight cats with high BCS of >7/9, showing two or more of the
following three symptoms, low adiponectin concentrations, hyperlipidemia, and high SAA
concentrations, categorizes them as having obesity disease. Cats with BCS 6/9–9/9,
without inflammatory reactions, were classified as simple obesity, which is similar to
metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) defined in human medicine. Simple obesity group
showed significantly higher adiponectin concentrations than those in control group.
The obesity disease group showed significantly higher plasma triglyceride (TG) and
SAA concentrations and lower concentrations of adiponectin than the control group.
Moreover, plasma glucose and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the obesity
disease group were higher than those in healthy control group, although the differences
were not statistically significant. Establishing criteria for obesity disease based on visceral
fat accumulation and inflammation markers levels contributes to early and correct
diagnosis of obesity in cats. |
