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Excess accumulation of body fat is related to dyslipidemia in normal-weight subjects

International Journal of Obesity volume 28, pages 242–247 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of fat mass (FM) and its distribution to hypertension and dyslipidemia in normal-weight Japanese individuals.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS: Apparently healthy Japanese subjects with a body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 23.5 kg/m2 (265 males and 741 females, age 21–69 y).

MEASUREMENTS: BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) were measured. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated by the Friedewald formula. Percentage fat mass (%FM) and trunk fat mass–leg fat mass ratio (FMtrunk/FMlegs) were obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS: WC, WHR, %FM and FMtrunk/FMlegs were significantly correlated with TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG with the tendency of FMtrunk/FMlegs to show the strongest correlations. For %FM and FMtrunk/FMlegs in both sexes, odds ratios (ORs) of the third tertiles with respect to the first tertiles increased for LDL-C elevation, TG elevation and dyslipidemia. In males, ORs of the third tertiles of WC were significantly high for LDL-C elevation and dyslipidemia whereas those of WHR were high for TG elevation and dyslipidemia. ORs of the third tertiles of WC and WHR were significantly high for TG elevation in females. BMI was not associated with the risk of abnormal lipid levels. ORs for hypertension showed significant increases in none of the variables of obesity.

CONCLUSIONS: Excess accumulation of FM, especially to the upper body, was related to dyslipidemia in normal-weight subjects. Simple anthropometric variables, WC and WHR, may be useful for screening and management of dyslipidemia in these subjects.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the staff members of the Fukuoka Health Promotion Center for their contribution to this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fukuoka Health Promotion Foundation, Fukuoka, Japan

    H Ito, A Ohshima, Y Sakai, S Jingu & M Sakamoto

  2. Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Fukuoka, Japan

    K Nakasuga, Y Kaji & M Harada

  3. Institute of Health Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan

    T Maruyama

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Correspondence to H Ito.

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Ito, H., Nakasuga, K., Ohshima, A. et al. Excess accumulation of body fat is related to dyslipidemia in normal-weight subjects. Int J Obes 28, 242–247 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802528

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