The association among fat distribution, physical fitness, and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in obese women.

The purpose of this study was to see whether fat distribution and physical fitness are independent risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in obese women. Seventy-four obese women aged 19 to 65 years participated in this study. The data were collected on plasma lipid profiles, plasma glucose and insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test, blood pressure, fat distribution determined by the waist to hip ratio (WHR), total body fat determined by the hydrostatic weighing method and a direct measurement of blood lactate threshold. Significant correlations were found between WHR and plasma cholesterol (TC), plasma LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) and LDL-c to the plasma HDL cholesterol ratio (LDL-c/HDL-c), independent of age, percent body fat, and VO2 per lean body mass at blood lactate threshold (LT). On the other hand, LT was significantly related to the area under the curve of insulin during OGTT (insulin area) and DBP, independent of age, percent body fat, and WHR. In conclusion, both fat distribution and physical fitness are considered to be independently related to some important risk factors in obese women after adjustment for percent body fat.