Risk factors for coronary heart disease in obese non-diabetic subjects

OBJECTIVE: To examine relationships between body mass index (BMI) and coronary risk factors in obese subjects presenting to a dedicated obesity clinic. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional population survey from a single centre. SUBJECTS: Three hundred and eighty-six consecutive non-diabetic obese subjects (301 women, 85 men) attending an obesity clinic for the first time (mean BMI 43.3 kg/m(2); range 30.6-71.5), aged 17-69 y (mean 40.1). MEASUREMENTS: Height, weight, resting blood pressure, fasting plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and uric acid concentrations. RESULTS: All variables measured showed an increase with higher BMI (triglycerides, P = 0.04; glucose, P = 0.007; urate, P < 0.001; systolic BP, P < 0.001; diastolic BP, P < 0.001) as measured by one-way ANOVA, except cholesterol concentration which showed no relationship with BMI. In comparison with the group of subjects with BMI 30-35 kg/m(2) mean values for all variables were higher in the more obese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Non-diabetic subjects with BMI > 35 kg/m(2) carry a burden of common coronary risk factors which appears to increase with greater obesity. The risk factor pattern observed echoes that described in insulin resistance syndromes. Plasma cholesterol concentration appears not to be related to BMI.