THE ASSOCIATION OF BODY-FAT LOCATION WITH HEMODYNAMIC AND METABOLIC STATUS IN MEN AND WOMEN AGED 21-60 YEARS

The importance of body fat location as a predictor of metabolic aberrations was evaluated in 214 males and 244 females [aged 21-60] randomly selected from the patients of one general practice of Castel D'Azzano (Italy). The metabolic pattern, indexed by blood pressure, blood glucose, uric acid, serum triglycerides, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol was summarized in a haemodynamic-metabolic score (HMS). Association of HMS with age, anthropometric variables (skinfold thicknesses, girth lengths) and degree of overweight (body mass index, BMI) was evaluated in males and females using multiple regression analysis. Body fat location was associated with metabolic status independent of age in both sexes. This association was also independent of the degree of overweight. BMI, in general, was associated with HMS to a greater extent than anthropometric variables, except for waist girth; when its effect was taken into account BMI did not significantly improve the prediction power of HMS values in males. Among skinfolds, epimesogastric showed in both sexes the highest association with HMS. These results support the abdominal adiposity hypothesis and suggest that waist circumference could be a good index for assessing metabolic status. The abdnominal location of adipose tissue, more than just the degree of overweight, could play a role in obesity related disorders.