title: Fat distribution, androgens, and metabolism in nonobese women.
abstract: Eighty-five randomly selected women, all born in 1948, were studied. All were nonobese (body mass index [BMI], 23.3 +/- 0.3 (means +/- SD]). The relationships between three indicators of fat distribution (waist-hip, waist-thigh, and subscapular-triceps ratios) and hormonal and metabolic variables were studied. Increased androgenic activity (ratio of free testosterone [T] to total testosterone [free-total T ratio]) and degree of obesity (BMI) were independently related to increased waist-hip ratio. Waist-hip and waist-thigh ratios showed higher correlations with all metabolic variables than did the triceps-subscapular skinfold thickness ratio except for diastolic blood pressure. After adjustment for BMI and free-total T ratio, the waist-hip ratio was still significantly positively related to total cholesterol and C peptide and negatively to the HDL-total cholesterol ratio. In such multiple regression, BMI was independently related to insulin, C peptide, and diastolic blood pressure. The free-total T ratio was independently related to triglycerides. BMI and waist-hip ratio gave important complementary information about risk factors for diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Seidell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cigolini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deurenberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oosterlee
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doornbos
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids