Dyslipidaemia in female overweight and obese patients. Relation to anthropometric and endocrine factors

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To characterize serum lipid abnormalities in overweight and obese female patients and to quantify the relative importance of associated factors. METHODS: Cross sectional study at the ®rst visit to the out-patient department. 237 consecutive overweight and obese female patients (age 31 AE 14 y, body mass index (BMI) 34.2 AE 6.0 kg/m 2 ) were studied. Evaluation included a questionnaire-based assessment of dietary and physical activity habits, determination of anthropometric indexes (BMI, abdominal/thigh ratio (A/T) and conicity index (CI)) and endocrine evaluation. Statistical analysis by factorial ANOVA and multiple regression. RESULTS: Dyslipidaemia was present in 46% of the patients, with hypercholesterolaemia (35%) being more frequent than hypertriglyceridaemia (10%). Age but not dietary habits or physical activity patterns was signi®cantly related to serum lipid concentrations, independently accounting for 6±10% of their variability. Pharmacological drug use resulted in increased serum triglyceride concentrations, explaining less than 5% of their variability. Serum cholesterol concentrations were not signi®cantly related either to anthropometric or to endocrine indexes. For serum triglyceride concentrations, anthropometric indexes accounted for 6% of their variability and endocrine indexes±postprandial insulin, serum cortisol, testosterone and androstenedione together accounted for 32%. CONCLUSION: In mild to moderate female obesity of the peripheral type, dyslipidaemia is common. However the most common abnormality, hypercholesterolaemia is not signi®cantly related to anthropometric or endocrine indexes, while these together account for more than one third of variability in serum triglyceride concentrations.

An update on physical health and economic consequences of overweight and obesity

“…The association between dyslipidaemia and obesity has long been identified. In 1998, Martins J. et al observed dyslipidaemia being common among mild to moderate obese woman [65]. In a study of 13,770 2-17 year -old-Chinese-children Li Y. et al found that the odds of prevalent dyslipidaemia was 1.76 times higher in overweight than average-weight ones.…”

Central Application of IGF-1 Postpones Time of Vaginal Opening in Normally Fed, but Not in Food-Restricted Rats

“…An involvement of IGF-1 as a mediator in this GH effect on leptin is not supported by the present study as the effects on leptin levels of centrally applied IGF-1 are not very impressive (FRIGF group), and even absent in the normally fed animals (CIGF group). And indeed, despite positive correlating adipose leptin and IGF-1 expression, a causal relation has not been shown [17, 18]. In contrast, a 6-day peripheral infusion (s.c.) of rhIGF in adult male rats (1 mg/day) or in male hypophysectomized adult rats (300 µg/day) has been shown to reduce fat mass, and suppress leptin mRNA and serum leptin levels [26, 27].…”

“…Vice versa, GH treatment increases leptin levels [16] and leptin mRNA abundance in normal male cattle exhibiting a positive IGF-1 response to GH [17]. But although adipose leptin and IGF-1 expression were highly correlated, a causative or mediatory relation was not proven [17, 18]. Hence, the actions of GH, IGF-1 and leptin might be amplified mutually as they control growth and the accrual in muscle mass.…”

Psychoneuroendocrine characteristics of common obesity clinical subtypes

“…3 Overall a typical pattern was found: patients reported an inadequate diet plan and minimal physical activity; parental obesity was common and for most patients obesity began in adulthood. 31 The clinical indexes selected a priori (age of onset, parental obesity, degree of obesity, type of body fat distribution, carbohydrate craving, binge eating behaviour with purging and initial weight loss) are commonly used.…”

“…31 The presence of other pathology as well as pharmacological drug use was also speci®cally assessed. Carbohydrate craving and binge eating behaviour with purging were assessed on a yesano basis from an openend interview by one of us who is experienced in the evaluation of obese patients, and generally following the Interview for Diagnosis of Eating Disorders (IDED).…”