Relationship between sitting-height-to-stature ratio and adiposity in Brazilian women.

Inadequate anthropometric dimensions, such as short leg length or high sitting-height-to-stature ratio (SHSR) in adults, can be considered indices of adverse environmental conditions in early life. Our objective was to describe the association between SHSR, a variable of prepubertal environment, and levels of adiposity in a group of Brazilian women. Six hundred and sixty-nine women aged 20-55 years were studied through a cross-sectional design. Detailed anthropometric measurements were obtained according to standardized procedures. Body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m2, percent body fat (% BF) measured through bioelectrical impedance >30, and the third tertile of six skinfold sums (SKF sum) were treated as dependent variables. High SHSR was defined as values > or = mean + 1 SD. Data analysis was performed using nonconditional hierarchical multivariate logistic regression, estimating adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the three dependent variables. Thirty-two percent of women who had high SHSR had low stature, compared with 13.8% in the group with normal SHSR (P < 0.000). After adjustment for age, schooling, total family income, parity, and age of menarche, high SHSR was still associated with BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.31-4.60), % BF >30 (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.11-3.61), and SKF sum (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.33-3.35). These results support the hypothesis that high SHSR, a variable of prepubertal adverse environmental conditions, is independently associated with adiposity in this group of Brazilian women. Responsible factors for high SHSR, other than genetics, should be investigated. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc