Sex difference in measures of body fatness and the possible difference in the effect of dietary fat on body fatness in men and women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the sex difference in anthropometric measures of body fatness and to explore the possibility that diet may have differential effects on body fatness in men and women.


METHODS
Prospective study design.


METHODS
The first and second China Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in 1989 and 1991, respectively.


METHODS
1449 men and 1683 women age 20-35 y at the baseline (1989) survey.


METHODS
Anthropometric measures of body fatness in men and women were compared. Statistical methods were used to explore the potential difference in the effect of dietary fat on body fatness in men and women.


RESULTS
Measures of body fatness, especially peripheral fatness, differed markedly between men and women in this study sample. Statistical analysis suggested that the effect of dietary fat on body fatness may be different in men compared to women.


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual dimorphism in body fatness has important implications for both clinical and epidemiologic research of obesity. The possibility that diet may have differential effect on body fatness in men and women needs to be investigated.
Paeratakul
S
S
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC27516-3997, USA.
Adair
L S
LS
Zhai
F
F
Ge
K
K
Popkin
B M
BM
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D004041:Dietary Fats