title: Relationship of the waist to hip ratio with serum lipids in women.
abstract: Recent reports have shown that a high ratio of waist to hip circumference (WHR) may be associated with a high proportion of intra-abdominal fat. The metabolic complications of obesity, which are associated with a high WHR, may therefore relate specifically to the amount of intra-abdominal fat. The purpose of this study was to determine if WHR is associated with the concentration of serum lipids that may predispose individuals to a higher risk for metabolic complications. Serum lipids concentrations were determined in 45 female subjects, ranging from 31 to 40 years in age, and WHR ranging from 0.71 to 0.98. Positive correlations of WHR with the ratio of cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.641, p less than 0.001) and with triglycerides (r = 0.479, p less than 0.001), were found, while a negative correlation existed between WHR and HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.600, p less than 0.001). In order to investigate the relationship between the fat distribution in the body and the serum lipids, the subjects were divided into two groups according to their % Body fat; one group with a % Body fat more than 30 and the other with a % Body fat less than 30. The two groups differed significantly in WHR. In the group of obese women with high WHR (greater than 0.87), the ratio of cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were higher and HDL-cholesterol lower than in the normal group with low WHR (less than 0.80).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komiya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuda
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids