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Biomedical subjects

M E Lean

Publications and source records attributed to M E Lean.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Self-reported waist circumference compared with the 'Waist Watcher' tape-measure to identify individuals at increased health risk through intra-abdominal fat accumulation.

We evaluated the accuracy of self-reported home-assessed and self-measured waist circumference in 101 men and eighty-three women aged 28-67 years. The main outcome measures were subjects' self-reported and self-measured waist circumference, and self-classification according to the previously defined waist action level 1 (940 mm in men, 800 mm in women) and action level 2 (1020 mm in men, 880 mm in women), and waist circumference measured by the investigator using the 'Waist Watcher' tape-measure, as the reference method. The mean errors (95% CI limits of agreement) for subjects' self-reported waist circumference (self-reported minus reference; mm) were -67 (95% CI -210, 77) in men and -43 (95% CI -211, 123) in women, and for self-measured waist circumference (mm) using the 'Waist Watcher' (self-measured minus reference) were -5 (95% CI -62, 52) in men and -4 (95% CI -50, 42) in women. The proportions of subjects classified into waist action level 1 or action level 2 by the investigator were used as the reference method. Self-reported waist circumference of men and women respectively would be classified correctly in different categories based on action level 1 with sensitivities of 58.3 and 78.7%, and specificities of 92.5 and 91.7%, and action level 2 with sensitivities of 35.3 and 44.9%, and specificities of 98.5 and 90.7%. Using the 'Waist Watcher' with different colour bands based on the action levels, male and female subjects respectively classified themselves into correct categories according to action level 1 with sensitivities of 100 and 95.7%, and specificities of 95.1 and 97.2%, and according to action level 2 with sensitivities of 97.1 and 100%, and specificities of 100% for both sexes. Only 2% of the sample misclassified themselves into the wrong categories according to waist circumference action levels. In conclusion, people tend to underestimate their waist circumference, but the 'Waist Watcher' tape-measure offers advantages over self-reported home-assessed measurement, and may be used as a screening tool for self-classifying the risk of ill health through intra-abdominal fat accumulation.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1998

Associations of indices of adiposity with atherogenic lipoprotein subfractions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of indices of adiposity with cardiovascular risk factors. SUBJECTS: 93 men and 98 women aged 18-69 y. OUTCOME MEASURES: Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference, waist to height ratio, blood pressure, fasting concentrations of blood glucose, insulin, plasma lipids and lipoprotein subfractions, apoproteins, lipoprotein(a) and post-heparin lipases. RESULTS: BMI and waist showed similar associations (P < 0.01) with a cluster of major cardiovascular risk factors including total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol in men, and ratio of low density lipoprotein-/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol for both genders. Large waist circumference was significantly (P < 0.01) associated (controlled for age and smoking) with features of the metabolic syndrome, including raised insulin concentration (men: r=0.37, women: r=0.49), reduced high density lipoprotein2 (men: r=-0.30, women: r=-0.34), increased very low density lipoprotein1 mass (men: r=0.31, women: r=0.42), raised small, dense low density lipoprotein (men: r=0.30, women: r=0.31), elevated blood pressure (men: r=0.27, women: r=0.28), increased triglyceride (men: r=0.43, women: r=0.48) and apolipoprotein-B (men: r=0.32, women: r=0.35). Waist circumference also correlated with hepatic lipase/lipoprotein lipase ratio in women (r=0.52). Height adjustment did not substantially change relationships between waist circumference and risk factors. WHR correlated with fewer risk factors. CONCLUSION: For the purpose of health promotion to prevent cardiovascular disease associated with overweight and intra-abdominal fat accumulation, the general public should be advised to be aware of the risk associated with large waist circumference.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1998

Influences on adrenaline-induced thermogenesis in obese women and relationship to cardiovascular responses.

1. In order to evaluate factors influencing thermogenesis in obesity, energy expenditure was measured before and during an adrenaline infusion (25 ng min-1 kg-1 ideal body weight for 30 min) in 22 obese females. 2. Thermogenic responses were related to body morphology, age and biochemistry. In addition, thermogenic responses were related to cardiovascular responses by simultaneously measuring blood pressure, pulse rate and cardiac output using Doppler sonography. 3. Resting energy expenditure was predicted by body weight, lean body mass and fat mass. 4. Adrenaline-induced thermogenesis was predicted by fasting insulin, low basal respiratory quotient and body fat. 5. There was a significant relationship between the cardiac output and thermogenic responses to adrenaline (r = 0.63 P < 0.015) but there was no relationship to the heart rate or blood pressure responses. For every 1% increase in energy expenditure, there was a 5% increase in cardiac output. 6. In conclusion, the factors predicting resting energy expenditure and adrenaline-induced thermogenesis are different. Increased lipid oxidation and central fat distribution (with hyperinsulinaemia) are associated with a greater thermogenic response. The proportionately greater cardiac output responses may have implications for thermogenic agents designed to induce weight loss.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Obesity--what are the current treatment options?

Obesity management includes primary weight loss, prevention of weight regain, and the management of associated risk factors, such as smoking, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension. All these require lifestyle modification. The success or failure of management will depend on the characteristics of both the patient and the physician (or therapeutic team). Thus, direct statistical comparisons between methods of management may be misleading. Weight loss of 5-10% (usually 5-10 kg and equivalent to 5-10 cm waist reduction for most patients) is generally achievable within 3-4 months. Attempts to achieve weight loss over longer periods of time are usually unsuccessful. Improved clinical, symptomatic and biochemical benefits are very significant with this degree of weight loss. It is therefore unreasonable to pursue an 'ideal' bodyweight. In reported studies, the weight decrease over the first 3-4 months represents the total weight loss. Data collected after this time reflect both the initial weight loss and the ability of the patient and the programme to maintain weight loss. Many reports and study designs do not make this distinction. The principal goal of weight management, whether in primary prevention or in treatment of the obese, is weight maintenance. This goal has to be viewed in the context of a normal tendency to gain weight through adult life. In good hands, dietary and behavioural techniques can maintain significant weight loss for 1 year or longer in about 40% of patients. This increases to about 70% for patients receiving appetite modifying drugs; professional resource requirements are also lower. Surgical approaches are reserved for those with more serious clinical risks. Weight loss in individuals with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) can be achieved in newly diagnosed patients and non-diabetics with comparable success. The goal of interventions in established NIDDM patients should be improved weight maintenance evaluated over 1-2 years, not acute loss achieved in 3 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

UK consumer attitudes, beliefs and barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.

OBJECTIVES: To assess attitudes, predictors of intention, and identify perceived barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) intakes. DESIGN: UK nationwide postal survey utilizing the theory of planned behaviour. SUBJECTS: Stratified (by social class and region) random sample of 2020 UK adults providing a modest response rate of 37% (n = 741). RESULTS: Belief measures (e.g. health, cost, taste, etc.) were strongly associated with overall attitudes which were reported as being largely favourable towards fruit, vegetables and, to a lesser extent, vegetable dishes, and were strongly associated with reported intention to increase consumption. Subjects reported they could increase their consumption, but this was only weakly associated with intention to do so. Approximately 50% of respondents reported an intention to increase intakes. Social pressure was strongly associated with reported intention to increase; however, scores indicated low perceived social pressure to change. Evidence of unrealistic optimism concerning perceived intakes and the perceived high cost of fruit may also act as barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest a lack of perceived social pressure to increase F&V intakes and suggests that public health efforts require stronger and broader health messages that incorporate consumer awareness of low present consumption.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Absorption and excretion of conjugated flavonols, including quercetin-4'-O-beta-glucoside and isorhamnetin-4'-O-beta-glucoside by human volunteers after the consumption of onions.

Flavonols are polyphenols found ubiquitously in plants and plant-products. Flavonols, particularly quercetin, are potent antioxidants in vitro and their intake has been associated inversely with the incidence of coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation in plasma and excretion in urine of flavonol glucosides following ingestion of lightly fried onions. Five healthy volunteers followed a low-flavonoid diet for 3 days. On day 4, after an overnight fast, subjects were given 300 g of lightly fried yellow onions which contain conjugates of quercetin and isorhamnetin, including quercetin-3,4 '-diO-beta-glucoside, isorhamnetin-4'-O-beta-glucoside and quercetin-4'-O-beta-glucoside. Blood collection was carried out at 0 min, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 24h after the supplement. In addition, subjects collected all their urine for 24h following the onion supplement. Isorhamnetin-4'-O-beta-glucoside and quercetin-4 '-O-beta-glucoside accumulated in plasma with maximum levels, defined as proportion of intake, of 10.7+/-2.6% and 0.13+/-0.03% respectively. The time of the quercetin-4'glucoside peak plasma concentration was 1.3+/-0.2 h after the ingestion of onions while a value of 1.8+/-0.7 h was obtained for isorhamnetin-4'-glucoside. Excretion in urine, as a proportion of intake, was 17.4+/-8.3% for isorhamnetin-4'-O-beta-glucoside and 0.2+/-0.1% for quercetin-4'-O-beta-glucoside. Possible reasons for the accumulation and excretion of isorhamnetin-4'-glucoside in proportionally much higher amounts than quercetin-4'-glucoside are discussed. It is concluded that flavonols are absorbed into the bloodstream as glucosides and minor structural differences affect markedly both the level of accumulation and the extent to which the conjugates are excreted.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effects of flavonoids and vitamin C on oxidative DNA damage to human lymphocytes.

This study assessed the antioxidant potencies of several widespread dietary flavonoids across a range of concentrations and compared with vitamin C as a positive control. The antioxidant effects of pretreatment with flavonoids and vitamin C, at standardized concentrations (7.6, 23.2, 93, and 279.4 micromol/L), on oxygen radical-generated DNA damage from hydrogen peroxide (100 micromol/L) in human lymphocytes were examined by using the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay). Pretreatment with all flavonoids and vitamin C produced dose-dependent reductions in oxidative DNA damage. At a concentration of 279 micromol/L, they were ranked in decreasing order of potency as follows: luteolin (9% of damage from unopposed hydrogen peroxide), myricetin (10%), quercetin (22%), kaempferol (32%), quercitrin (quercetin-3-L-rhamnoside) (45%), apigenin (59%), quercetin-3-glucoside (62%), rutin (quercetin-3-beta-D-rutinoside) (82%), and vitamin C (78%). The protective effect of vitamin C against DNA damage at this concentration was significantly less than that of all the flavonoids except apigenin, quercetin-3-glucoside, and rutin. The ranking was similar with estimated ED50 (concentration to produce 50% protection) values. The protective effect of quercetin and vitamin C at a concentration of 23.2 micromol/L was found to be additive (quercetin: 71% of maximal DNA damage from unopposed hydrogen peroxide; vitamin C: 83%; both in combination: 62%). These data suggest that the free flavonoids are more protective than the conjugated flavonoids (eg, quercetin compared with its conjugate quercetin-3-glucoside, P < 0.001). Data are also consistent with the hypothesis that antioxidant activity of free flavonoids is related to the number and position of hydroxyl groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Separate associations of waist and hip circumference with lifestyle factors.

OBJECTIVE: To study the associations of lifestyle factors with waist circumference 'Action Levels', hip circumference and body mass index. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in a random sample of 5887 men and 7018 women aged 20-59 years, selected from the civil registries of Amsterdam, Maastricht and Doetinchem, The Netherlands. RESULTS: Results were compared to those in low health risk reference groups: non-smokers, occasional drinkers, highest educated, physically active, employed subjects, women who had no live births, or 20-29-year-olds. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for having a waist above 'Action Level 2' (> or =102 cm in men, > or =88 cm in women) were significantly lower in smokers, and higher in heavy drinkers, inactive subjects, unemployed people, those educated below secondary level, women who had > or =3 live births, and older age. Mean waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index and age were higher in these groups. Residual analysis showed that the likelihood of having larger waist than expected from their body mass index was 1.2 times (1.1-1.4) in male smokers, 1.4 times (1.2-1.7) in male and 1.7 times (1.3-2.2) in female heavy drinkers, 1.6 times (1.5-1.8) in inactive men, and 1.3 times (1.1-1.5) in unemployed women. The risk of having smaller hips than expected from body mass index was 1.2 times (1.1-1.4) in male and 1.2 times (1.0-1.3) in female smokers, 1.2 times (1.1-1.3) in men and 1.1 times (1.0-1.2) in women who were inactive. CONCLUSIONS: Each lifestyle factor influences the size of waist and the hips differently, and understanding these influences is important for health promotion directed at the general public. Lifestyle modifications such as smoking cessation, reduced drinking, and a more physically active lifestyle should all be encouraged, leading to an overall healthier body shape.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Natural sporting ability and predisposition to cardiovascular disorders.

We tested the hypothesis that people with a natural ability in 'power sports' (a presumed marker for predominance of type 2, glycolytic muscle fibres) might have increased risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) compared to those with a natural ability in 'endurance sports' (as a marker for predominance of type 1, oxidative muscle fibres). We examined subsequent cardiovascular disorders retrospectively in 231 male former soldiers, aged 34-87 years, who had undergone a course in physical training in the Army School of Physical Training, Aldershot, UK, who assessed themselves as having natural ability in either power (n = 107) or endurance (n = 124) sports. The proportion with CHD, defined as angina and/or coronary angioplasty and/or coronary artery bypass graft and/or heart attack was 18.7% in the 'power group' vs. 9.7% in the 'endurance group' (difference: chi 2 = 3.9, p = 0.05). The proportions with CHD and/or risk factors rose to 39.3% in the 'power group' vs. 25.8% in the 'endurance group' (difference: chi 2 = 4.8, p = 0.03). Under logistic regression analysis, compared to the 'endurance group', the 'power group' had 2.2 (95% CI: 1.00-4.63) the risk of developing CHD, and 1.86 (95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 3.25) the risk of developing CHD and/or risk factors. Men with a natural ability in 'power sports' are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disorders, compared to men with a natural ability in 'endurance sports'. A predominance of type 2, glycolytic muscle fibres, presumably of genetic origin, may predispose to cardiovascular disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Quality of life in relation to overweight and body fat distribution.

OBJECTIVES: This study quantified the impairment of quality of life attributable to body fatness by using the standardized SF-36 Health Survey. METHODS: Tertiles of waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) in 1885 men and 2156 women aged 20 to 59 years in the Netherlands in 1995 were compared. RESULTS: The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of subjects with the largest waist circumferences, compared with those in the lowest tertile, were 1.8 (1.3, 2.4) in men and 2.2 (1.7, 2.9) in women with difficulties in bending, kneeling, or stooping; 2.2 (1.4, 3.7) in men and 1.7 (1.2, 2.6) in women with difficulties in walking 500 m; and 1.3 (1.0, 1.9) in men and 1.5 (1.1, 1.9) in women with difficulties in lifting or carrying groceries. Anthropometric measures were less strongly associated with social functioning, role limitations due to physical or emotional problems, mental health, vitality, pain, or health change in 1 year. The relationship between quality of life measures and BMI were similar to those between quality of life measures and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Large waist circumferences and high BMIs are more likely to be associated with impaired quality of life and disability affecting basic activities of daily living.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Measuring fruit and vegetable intake: is five-a-day enough?

OBJECTIVE: Validation of a self-monitoring "portions' measurement of fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption against a standard of weighed intakes. DESIGN: Component of a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Subjects attended research centres in Reading and Glasgow for instruction and monitoring but undertook free-living dietary changes at home. SUBJECTS: A study sample of 42 adult men and women fulfilling the main recruitment criterion of eating less than five F&V portions/day but contemplating increasing intakes and providing weighted baseline reported energy intakes exceeding (estimated basal metabolic rate x 1.1). INTERVENTIONS: Subjects attended an intensive group advice session which included the specific relationship of high F&V intake with reduced risk of disease; practicalities; portion definition and measurement recording. The target was to exceed five F&V portions/day for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-recorded simultaneous weighed inventories and F&V portion measures. RESULTS: Data from subjects who were not evident under-recorders showed correlations between portion and weighed intakes of r = 0.73, (P < 0.000), although the portions measure tended to under-estimate intakes. Using 80 g/portion the "5-a-day' concept tends to create false negatives (namely consumption could be greater than 400 g whilst recording fewer than five discrete portions) but rarely false positives (namely recorded consumption of less than 400 g did not give measures of more than five discrete portions). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the five portions F&V/day health message, if used in conjunction with defined discrete portions, would encourage desirable consumption exceeding 400 g.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Weight loss with high and low carbohydrate 1200 kcal diets in free living women.

This randomised controlled trial examined anthropometric changes and cardiovascular benefits of six months of weight management in 110 free living women, aged 18-68 y and BMI 25-50 kg/m2, who received 1200 kcal/d diet treatments of either high (58% energy, n = 57) or low (35% energy, n = 53) carbohydrate (CHO) content. Body weight, plasma total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglyceride and blood pressure were measured. Examination at three months showed women on high CHO lost (mean +/- s.e.m) 4.3 +/- 0.5 kg and those on low CHO lost 5.6 +/- 0.6 kg of body weight. Changes in risk factors did not significantly differ between the two diet treatments throughout the study. However those on high CHO diets significantly lowered their plasma total cholesterol by 0.33 mmol/l (95% CI: 0.10, 0.55), LDL cholesterol by 0.23 mmol/l (0.02, 0.43) and HDL cholesterol by 0.05 mmol/l (0.03, 0.10), while women on low CHO diets lowered only plasma triglyceride by 0.28 mmol/l (0.08, 0.48). Blood pressure did not change significantly on either diet. After six months, women on high CHO lost 5.6 +/- 0.8 kg and those on low CHO lost 6.8 +/- 0.8 kg. On the high CHO diet, total cholesterol remained significantly below the baseline value at 0.34 mmol/l (0.13, 0.56), triglyceride was significantly lowered by 0.27 mmol/l (0.10, 0.45), and HDL cholesterol returned to the baseline value. On the low CHO diet, triglyceride remained the only risk factor to be significantly improved. A subgroup of 46 postmenopausal women lost significantly (P < 0.05) more weight on the low CHO diet than high CHO diet. In conclusion, these results provided some support for preferring a high CHO diet to a lower CHO approach in weight management, from the point of view of risk reduction, but do not indicate a consistently more rapid weight loss with either diet.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Skeletal proportions and metabolic disorders in adults.

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the associations of stature, lower leg length (LLL) and demi-arm span (demi-AS) with major predisposing cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease. STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Cross-sectional study set at Glasgow Royal Infirmary of a subsample of 543 men and 646 women aged 25-66 y from the random MONICA sample. ASSOCIATED MEASURES: LLL, demi-AS, blood pressure, plasma total cholesterol, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease (angina, angioplasty, heart attack, and coronary artery bypass graft). RESULTS: The numbers (and proportions) of men and women, respectively, with hypertension were 126 (23.6%) and 80 (14.0%), hypercholesterolaemia 155 (29.0%) and 171 (30.1%), coronary heart disease 53 (10.1%) and 47 (8.4%), and diabetes 15 (2.9%) and 9 (1.6%). Results were adjusted for age, social class and smoking. Analysis of variance showed that in men, shortness of height, LLL or demi-AS were all associated significantly (P < 0.05) with hypercholesterolaemia. Long LLL, high ratios of LLL:height or LLL:demi-As were associated significantly (P < 0.05) with diabetes mellitus. In women, shortness of height or LLL were associated with significantly (P < 0.05) with coronary heart disease. High ratio of demi-AS:height or low ratio of LLL:demi-AS was associated significantly (P < 0.05) with coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: Short stature and limb lengths, and also altered skeletal proportions, which may reflect interrupted early growth, are associated with several metabolic disorders. Skeletal disproportion associates with diabetes in men and coronary heart disease in women.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Plasma lipids, dehydroepiandosterone sulphate and insulin concentrations in elderly overweight angina patients, and effect of weight loss.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of moderate weight loss in older overweight subjects with angina pectoris on plasma dehydroepiandosterone sulphate (DHEAS), urinary steroid metabolites, insulin and plasma lipid concentrations. DESIGN: Single stranded study of dietitian led dietary intervention for weight loss in a volunteer outpatient group of 41 subjects with angina (22 males, 19 females), BMI 29.1 s.d. 4.2 kg/m2 aged 61.3 s.d. 6.5 y. MEASUREMENTS: Body weight and composition by anthropometry, REE by indirect calorimetry, dietary intake by seven day inventory, plasma DHEAS, insulin and lipids. RESULTS: After 12 weeks dietary supervision there were reductions in body weight (3.3 s.d. 2.3 kg, BMI 1.2 s.d., P = 0.00001) and in reported energy intake (-1179 s.d. 1393 kJ daily, P = 0.0001. No significant change was seen in plasma DHEAS or insulin but there were reductions in plasma cholesterol (-0.5 s.d. 0.6 mmol/l, P = 0.0001) HDL cholesterol (-0.1 s.d. 0.1 mmol/l, P = 0.0048) and triglyceride (-0.1 mmol/l s.d. 0.5, P = 0.055). CONCLUSION: Weight loss of 4% body weight by conventional dietary means over 12 weeks does not alter plasma DHEAS, urinary steroid metabolites or insulin concentrations, but does reduce plasma cholesterol in older moderately overweight subjects with angina.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

The influences of height and age on waist circumference as an index of adiposity in adults.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the influences of height and age on the differences in waist circumference between individuals of different stature. SUBJECTS: 3319 males and 4358 females from four studies in the UK and the Netherlands. MEASUREMENTS: Waist circumference, body weight, height, and age. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis of log10 height as the independent variable on log10 waist as the dependent variable was used to determine the optimal index powers (OIP) (p) to minimize the influence of height in the relationships of waist/height(p). Six out of eight samples of men and women had OIP of height not significantly different from zero, with the remaining two groups had OIP between 0.15-0.58, indicating that height had very limited influence on the differences in waist circumference measurement between individuals. Age adjustment increased the relationship between waist and height, with OIP of 0.19-0.89 in men and 0.02-0.58 in women. Without age adjustment, height explained 0.3-3.5% and 0.1-2.5% variance in waist in men and in women respectively, and the corresponding variances were 0.4-7.5% in men and 0.0-2.6% in women with age adjustment. A similar analysis of weight and height showed the OIP of height in weight/height(p) ratio ranged from 1.32-2.25 in men, and 0.87-1.74 in women without age adjustment, and from 1.47-2.24 in men and 1.25-1.96 in women with age adjustment. CONCLUSION: Height and age had limited influences on the differences in waist between Caucasian subjects of different stature. Waist alone may be used to indicate adiposity or to reflect metabolic risk factors. In contrast, the influence of height on body weight is important.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Waist circumference reduction and cardiovascular benefits during weight loss in women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between waist circumference and cardiovascular risk factors during weight loss, and to consider possible waist reduction targets for weight management. DESIGN: Single strand six month weight loss study on food based diets in 110 women aged 18-68 y, and body mass index > or = 25 kg/m2 set at an outpatient clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Waist circumference, weight, body mass index (BMI), total plasma cholesterol, low (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood pressure. RESULTS: Anthropometric and metabolic measurements improved with mean weight loss of 4.9 (s.e.m. +/- 0.4) kg at three months and 6.2 (s.e.m. +/- 0.4) kg at six months. Weight loss closely related to waist reduction (% Weight loss = 0.85 x Waist reduction (cm)-2.09; r = 0.79). The proportion of subjects with waist circumference below Action Level 1 (< 80 cm) or above Action Level 2 (> or = 88 cm) were 9 and 60% at baseline, 29 and 38% at three months and 36 and 33% at six months. Waist reduction (adjusted for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet treatment and baseline dependent and independent variables) correlated significantly with falls in total cholesterol (r = 0.31; P < 0.01), LDL cholesterol (r = 0.35; P < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.32; P < 0.01), but not significantly with HDL cholesterol, triglyceride or systolic blood pressure. BMI showed similar correlations, whereas waist to hip ratio changes were not associated with changes in any cardiovascular risk factors. Amongst those whose waist fell by > or = 5 cm, 45 at three months and 43 at six months, there were > or = 10% improvements in at least one risk factor for 71 and 84% respectively. Amongst those whose waist fell by 5-10 cm, 40 women at three months and 30 at six months, at least one risk factor improved by > or = 10% in 70% and in 83% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Waist reduction of 5-10 cm in Caucasian women, across a range of baseline BMI 25-50 kg/m2 or waist circumference 72-133 cm, may be used as guideline to encourage overweight women to achieve a realistic target with a high probability of health benefits.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Predicting intra-abdominal fatness from anthropometric measures: the influence of stature.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of height on the relationships between the intra-abdominal fat and anthropometric measures. SUBJECTS: Twenty healthy female volunteers aged 20-51 y from Aberdeen, and 71 men and 34 women aged 19-85 y from Nijmegen, The Netherlands. OUTCOME MEASURES: Intra-abdominal fat volumes by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Aberdeen and cross-sectional areas at L4-L5 level by computerised tomography (CT) in Nijmegen, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist sagittal and transverse diameters, waist to hip ratio, and skinfolds. RESULTS: In the MRI study the women with BMI 20-33 kg/m2, waist circumference 62-97 cm, height 148-172 cm, and intra-abdominal fat volume 0.07-2.66 kg, waist circumference gave the highest correlation of simple indices with intra-abdominal fat volume, explaining 77.8% of variance. Single cross-sectional MRI cuts predicted volume with r = 0.94-0.99. Height in various levels of index power was not related to waist circumference, waist diameters, BMI, or skinfolds and did not improve prediction of intra-abdominal fat volume or of cross-sectional intra-abdominal fat area at any level. The CT study of men and women with BMI 18-32 kg/m2 and 19-38 kg/m2, waist circumference 71-112 cm and 74-125 cm, height 158-197 cm and 151-182 cm, and intra-abdominal fat area 13-274 cm2 and 19-221 cm2 respectively, height also had little influence on the relationships of intra-abdominal fat area with waist circumference or with any other indices of adiposity in linear or quadratic models. Compared to younger subjects, intra-abdominal fat area was higher in older subjects for a given waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Height does not importantly influence the differences in measures of adiposity or intra-abdominal fat volume in women, or intra-abdominal fat area in both sexes. Age does influence the prediction of intra-abdominal fat from waist circumference, but waist circumference alone has a predictable simple relationship with intra-abdominal fat volume or area, which is likely to relate to the prediction of health risk for health promotion.

Abdomen↗