De middel-heupomtrekverhouding bij Nederlandse vrouwen en het verband met zelf-gerapporteerde diabetes mellitus, hypertensie en cholecystectomie

The waist-to-hip circumference ratio is recognized as a measure of body fat distribution and as a risk indicator of premature mortality. The distribution of waist-to-hip ratio values in 12,000 Dutch women aged between 40 and 75 years is presented. In addition, the statistical associations between the waist-to-hip ratio and the degree of overweight as well as the prevalence of self-reported diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cholecystectomy are described. The odds ratios for the prevalence of these disorders increased progressively with increasing waist-to-hip ratio. The age-adjusted odds ratios for women with a waist-to-hip ratio greater than 0.85 in comparison to those with a waist-to-hip ratio less than 0.70 were 4.8, 4.6 and 5.8 for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cholecystectomy respectively. The presented data on waist-to-hip ratio can, in combination with Quetelet's index, serve as a guide in the interpretation of measured waist-to-hip ratios in women between 40 and 75 years of age

The relationship between fat distribution and some chronic diseases in 11825 women participating in the DOM-Project.

The prevalence of reported chronic diseases was studied in quintiles of waist/hip ratio and Quetelet index in 11,825 women aged 40-73 presenting for mammographic screening in the DOM-project. After adjustment for age and Quetelet index, increased waist/hip ratio was found to be associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystectomy and a lower prevalence of varicose veins. No associations were observed between waist/hip ratio and the prevalence of angina pectoris, gout and rheumatism. The odds ratios, adjusted for age and Quetelet index, of the highest versus the lowest quintile of waist/hip ratio were 3.4 (95% CI 1.4-8.3) for diabetes mellitus; 2.2 (95% CI 1.7-2.8) for hypertension; 2.0 (95% CI 1.2-3.4) for cholecystectomy, and 0.81 (95% CI 0.68-0.95) for varicose veins. After adjustment for waist/hip ratio and age, Quetelet index was found to be associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension, cholecystectomy and varicose veins. Quetelet index, however, was not found to be related to diabetes, gout or rheumatism. We conclude that in a representative sample of Dutch women older than 40 years, fat distribution in addition to overweight is related to important chronic diseases

Fat distribution in relation to age, degree of obesity, smoking habits, parity and estrogen use: a cross-sectional study in 11825 Dutch women participating in the DOM-project.

Fat distribution (waist/hip ratio) was assessed in a population of 11,825 women, aged 40-73 years, presenting for routine breast cancer screening (the DOM project in Utrecht) in the period 1984 to 1986. Waist/hip ratio increased with increasing Quetelet's index and age. Postmenopausal women did not have higher waist/hip ratios compared to premenopausal women after adjustment for Quetelet's index and age. In pre- and postmenopausal women, waist/hip ratio increased with increasing number of cigarettes smoked per day (while Quetelet's index decreased) and a positive linear relationship was found between parity and waist/hip ratio (also after adjustment for Quetelet's index and age). Age at menarche was strongly inversely related to Quetelet's index but was not related to waist/hip ratio. In postmenopausal women, waist/hip ratio was lower in women who reported to use oestrogens for menopausal complaints in comparison with similar women who did not, but this difference disappeared after adjustment for age and degree of obesity. This study emphasizes the role of some variables that are associated with fat distribution and are potential confounders of risk estimates of abdominal obesity