Obesity distribution and reproductive hormone levels in women: a report from the NHLBI-sponsored WISE Study.
OBJECTIVE
Relationships between body weight and disease are not straightforward. Central obesity appears to be a relatively greater cardiovascular risk factor than generalized obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and the association of obesity distribution with blood estrogen levels (estradiol, bioavailable estradiol, and estrone).


METHODS
The study cohort consisted of 207 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) undergoing angiography for evaluation of suspected ischemia.


RESULTS
Both BMI and waist circumference were positively associated with all three blood estrogen levels (p < 0.01), with the highest estrogen levels found in the obese women with large waists (p < 0.01). Results from regression analyses confirmed significant associations of BMI and waist circumference with the estrogen levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate differing relationships between blood estrogen levels and obesity distribution in a cohort of postmenopausal women with chest pain undergoing coronary angiography. The differing levels by general and central obesity may help explain in part observed epidemiological relationships between obesity and disease.
Olson
Marian B
MB
Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Shaw
Leslee J
LJ
Kaizar
Eloise E
EE
Kelsey
Sheryl F
SF
Bittner
Vera
V
Reis
Steven E
SE
Smith
Karen
K
Braunstein
Glenn D
GD
Berga
Sarah L
SL
Johnson
B Delia
BD
Bairey Merz
C Noel
CN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D016387:Women's Health
D004967:Estrogens; D004970:Estrone; D004958:Estradiol