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Health Review

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): January/December - 2025

Identification of Increased Buccal Facial Fat as a Premature Predictor of Metabolic Syndrome: A Scoping Review

DOI
https://doi.org/10.52600/2965-0968.bjcmr.2025.3.1.bjcmr10
Submitted
May 25, 2024
Published
2024-07-24

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a notable increase in the prevalence of obesity, particularly visceral obesity, which is associated with heightened morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, a series of studies have suggested that facial features, including buccal fat tissue, may serve as alternative indicators of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases, given that buccal and visceral adipose tissues share histological and metabolic similarities. This review followed the structure of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) protocol yo platforms to answer the research question: How does buccal facial fat act as an early predictor of metabolic syndrome? Buccal fat pad (BFP) was discovered by Xavier Bichat in 1801. Facial fat loss is related to a reduction in visceral fat. Facial parameters, such as the distance between earlobes and jaw width, were used to identify visceral obesity. The reviewed studies emphasize the relationship between facial adipose tissue, especially BFP, and visceral obesity, with valuable implications for clinical practice. Individuals with higher BFP tend to have more visceral fat, highlighting its potential in the early identification of metabolic risks.

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