The relationship between coronary risk factors and body weight - Gender and age difference

Abstract

Methods: The association between Coronary Risk Factors (CRF) and Body Mass Index (BMI, defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) was examined in 1,551 Japanese in an urban health promotion sports center. These subjects were 20-84 years of age and free of known cardiovascular disease. Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), smoking habits and sports habits were measured for CRF and converted to a score for overall estimation of individual CRF. Results: In analysis, a linear relation was observed between BMI and the sum of CRF scores (CRFI) in both men and women. Men had a higher CRFI and greater increase in CRFI by BMI than women. When examined separately by age strata, women showed a greater increase in CRFI by BMI with the increase in age. In contrast, men over 50 years old showed no increase in CRFI by BMI.