Visceral fat accumulation is a risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases. Chronic hemodialysis patients are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases than normal people. However, little is known about the health guidelines for decreasing visceral fat accumulation in hemodialysis patients. This study aimed to study the relationships between visceral fat content, nutrient intake, and physical activity between hemodialysis patients with and without visceral fat accumulation. Another objective was to determine the lifestyle factors that led to accumulation of visceral fat in hemodialysis patients.This study investigated 31 chronic hemodialysis patients in a hospital. Each individual's visceral fat area (VFA) was measured by performing computed tomography. Energy and various nutrient intakes and levels of physical activity were determined by using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). In the subjects, 10 had visceral fat accumulation and 21 did not. The average VFA was 168.7±67.9 cm2 in the accumulation group and 53.1±26.2 cm2 in the non-accumulation group. There was no significant difference in energy intake between the accumulation group and the non-accumulation group. The intake of vitamin D was significantly higher and that of seaweed was significantly lower in the accumulation group. The VFA of the group having high physical activity (Level 3) was significantly lower compared with that of the group having low physical activity (Level 1). Therefore, we hypothesize that, in chronic hemodialysis patients, the volume of nutritional elements and foods, not energy intakes, and the level of physical activity, may be associated with visceral fat accumulation
