WC adds only modestly to the prediction of coronary risk in younger subjects once BMI is known, and adds nothing to the production of risk in older subjects.

Our data indicate that the waist circumference cutpoints proposed by NHLBI and WHO standards are useful for the prediction of cardiovascular disease risk factors in older as well as in younger men and women.

OBJECTIVES: To examine differences in the relationship between fat distribution and lipid coronary risk factors in Caucasian and Japanese population and further to determine whether the cut-points for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) proposed by WHO and NHLBI are applicable to Japanese population as a predictor of a lipid risk factor abnormality or not. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Subjects were 895 participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging in the US (BLSA) and 1705 participants of the Longitudinal Study of Aging by the National Institutes for Longevity Science in Japan (NILS-LSA). Subjects were divided into four demographic groups as younger (ageo65 y) men and women, and older (ageZ65 y) men and women. Blood total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-and HDL-cholesterol and anthropometry were measured. Regression coefficients of BMI and WC on risk factors, sensitivity and specificity of the BMI and WC cut-points for blood lipid abnormality, and mean values of blood lipids at BMI or WC cut-points were computed in both populations. RESULTS: Height, weight, WC and BMI were significantly greater in the BLSA than those in the NILS-LSA subjects. Total cholesterol, HDL-and LDL-cholesterol were significantly greater in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects. Sensitivities of BMI and WC cut-points were much lower in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects. Specificities of BMI and WC cut-points were higher in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects. Mean values of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-and LDL-cholesterol at BMI ¼ 25 were significantly greater in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects. At the WC cut-point (94 cm for men, 80 cm for women), mean values of all lipids were significantly greater in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects with the exception of triglycerides in younger women. CONCLUSIONS: The Japanese subjects have smaller BMI and WC, worse total and LDL-cholesterol levels and better HDLcholesterol levels compared to Caucasians. Sensitivities of BMI and WC for predicting lipid risk factor abnormality are much lower in Japanese. The cut-points for BMI and WC proposed by WHO and NHLBI may be too high for predicting an abnormality in triglycerides, total and LDL-cholesterol in Japanese. For detecting an abnormal HDL-cholesterol level, the BMI and WC cutpoints may not be as beneficial for the Japanese population as for Caucasians.

Overlapping of family history of obesity and exercise risk factors synergistically increase the BMI and risk of obesity in both boys and girls. Intervention to promote exercise in adolescents who have obese family member(s) should be encouraged.

We have investigated the difference in lipolysis caused by a beta-adrenergic agent between visceral and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissues in vivo. Glycerol levels (lipolysis index) were continuously monitored in mesenteric and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissues of anaesthetized Wistar rats using the microdialysis technique. During microdialysis, increasing concentrations of the lipolytic agent, isoproterenol (10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5) mol L-1), were added to the perfusion. Glycerol concentrations in dialysate at each isoproterenol concentration, blood glucose concentrations during the experiment, and plasma insulin concentrations before and immediately after the experiment were measured. The effect of isoproterenol on local blood flow was investigated using the ethanol technique. The clearance rate of ethanol from the perfusion medium was used as the index of local blood flow. There was no significant change in blood glucose or plasma insulin concentrations during the study. Glycerol levels in dialysate were significantly higher in mesenteric than in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissues at all isoproterenol concentrations. The percentage change of baseline ethanol ratio was not altered by increasing isoproterenol concentrations in both mesenteric and subcutaneous adipose tissues. There was also no significant difference in percentage change of the baseline ethanol ratio between mesenteric and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissues. These results suggest that mesenteric adipose tissue is characterized by an even higher beta-adrenergic agonist-induced lipolysis than abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue.