Ashwell et al developed the fat distribution (FD) score to describe the distribution of fat in females. The authors are from the Clinical Research Center (Harrow, Middlesex) and St.Thomas' Hospital Medical School (London) in England.
Patterns of fat:
(1) central (fat deposited primarily around the waist)
(2) intermediate
(3) peripheral (fat deposited primarily around the hips and thighs, aka gynoid)
Protocol: Photographs are taken of the unclothed patient from the side (somatotype photography). The negatives are enlarged 10-fold.
Measurements:
(1) waist diameter in cm (maximum anterior to posterior in horizontal plane)
(2) thigh diameter in cm (maximum anterior to posterior in horizontal plane)
FD score =
= 26 * LOG10 ((waist diameter) / thigh diameter))
Interpretation:
• A score of 0 is returned if both diameters are equal.
• A positive score is returned when the waist diameter > thigh diameter.
• A negative score is returned when the waist diameter < thigh diameter.
• A negative score indicates a peripheral fat distribution.
• A positive score indicates a more central fat distribution.
Limitations:
• A woman with little fat to distribute may give a skewed result.
