Trends in waist-to-hip ratio and its determinants in adults in Finland from 1987 to 1997.
BACKGROUND
Although abdominal obesity has been shown to be an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a variety of other diseases, secular changes in fat distribution in populations have rarely been documented.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to assess trends in waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in the Finnish population during a 10-y period. In addition, we investigated the associations of WHR with body mass index (BMI), age, education, and lifestyle factors.


METHODS
Three independent cross-sectional surveys were carried out at 5-y intervals between 1987 and 1997. Altogether, 15096 randomly selected men and women aged 25-64 y participated in these surveys.


RESULTS
The WHR increased in both men and women during the 10-y period (P: < 0.0001). In men, the strongest upward trend took place in the first 5-y period and then seemed to plateau; in women, the WHR continued to increase into the 1990s. In both sexes, the most prominent increase was observed in subjects aged >/=45 y. The WHR increased in all education-level groups, the lowest WHR being among those with the highest education. Age (18% in men, 12% in women) and BMI (33% in men, 25% in women) accounted for most of the variation in WHR, whereas only 3% was explained by education and lifestyle factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal obesity is a growing problem in Finland, especially in persons aged >/=45 y. These adverse changes in body shape continued to take place, particularly in women, in the 1990s.
Lahti-Koski
M
M
Department of Nutrition, the Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. marjaana.lahti-koski@ktl.fi
Pietinen
P
P
Männistö
S
S
Vartiainen
E
E
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors