Pilot Study of Ultrasound-Measured Visceral Fat Thickness as a Screening Tool for Pediatric Metabolic Risk in a Resource-Limited Community

Introduction: This study examines the use of bedside ultrasound to evaluate visceral fat thickness and, by correlation, metabolic risk within a population of pediatric patients in Mexico presenting for outpatient care. The goal was to quantify correlations between visceral fat thickness and established metabolic‐risk surrogates. 

Methods: A medical student who completed a 2-hour hands-on training session performed bedside ultrasound scans to determine the visceral fat thickness in pediatric patients attending community health clinics in Mexico. An approach using the Hamagawa midline method was employed and compared with waist circumference, body-mass-index-for-age percentile, and age to determine correlation and risk factors based on known data in the literature. 

Results: Data from sixteen pediatric patients were obtained and analyzed. VFT correlated with BMI-for-age percentile (r = 0.61, 95% CI 0.16–0.85, p = 0.012) and waist circumference (r = 0.81, 95% CI 0.51–0.93, p < 0.001). Ultrasound acquisition added < 3 minutes to a routine visit and was completed by a medical student after minimal training.

Conclusion: Bedside ultrasound offers a rapid, low-cost means of assessing visceral adiposity and metabolic risk in pediatric primary-care settings in Mexico.  Early identification mmay facilitate timely lifestyle intervation and reduce llong-term cardiometabolic sequelae, particularly in underserved communities where donated handheld scanners can be deployed.