Male-female differences in the relationship between obesity and lipids/lipoproteins.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of gender on the relationship between obesity measures and lipids/lipoproteins.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, matched observational study of adult men and women.


METHODS
225 spousal pairs from Cincinnati, Ohio (age range, 28-66 years; mean +/- SD (yr), 44.0 +/- 6.7 (men), 42.1 +/- 5.9 (women).


METHODS
Body mass measures, lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, physical activity levels, cigarette use and dietary variables.


RESULTS
Correlations between the lipids/lipoproteins and body mass index (BMI) were stronger in women than in men for cholesterol (r = 0.24 vs 0.10), LDL-c (r = 0.27 vs 0.12), triglycerides (TG) (r = 0.48 vs 0.23) and the ratio cholesterol/HDL-c (r = 0.47 vs 0.28). Utilizing statistical regression models which included potentially confounding environmental factors, BMI and WHR both contributed significant information to describe cholesterol, HDL-c, TG and cholesterol/HDL-c values in women, whereas WHR alone provided information for these lipids/lipoproteins in men.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between BMI and lipids/lipoproteins appears to be stronger in women than in men. In women, in contrast to men, BMI and WHR, measures which are easily attainable in the clinical setting, provide separate, independent information in the explanation of these lipid/lipoprotein levels.
Margolis
C F
CF
Department of Family Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0582, USA.
Sprecher
D L
DL
Simbartl
L A
LA
Campaigne
B N
BN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018454:Spouses
D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol