Anthropometric Predictors of Coronary Heart Disease and Total Mortality: Findings from the US Railroad Study

Abstract

Prospective data from the US Railroad Study were used to investigate the relations of several anthropometric variables to coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality in males initially free of cardiovascular disease. Middle-aged men were examined in 1957-1960 and followed until 1977 or death. Anthropometric indicators of total body fat (body mass index and the sum of the subscapular and triceps skinfolds) and central body fat (the ratios chest circumference/biacromial (shoulder) diameter, and chest circumference/standing height) were significantly and directly associated with age-adjusted coronary heart disease mortality. When systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, cigarette smoking, and vital capacity were also taken into account, the ratio chest circumference/biacromial diameter remained significantly associated with coronary heart disease mortality. Total, central, and peripheral body fat had a "U"-shaped relation with all-cause mortality. Measures of the ratio of central to peripheral body fat were inconsistently related to mortality. These results indicate that certain anthropometric measurements, especially those that may indicate central adiposity, are positively related to the development of fatal coronary heart disease and quadratically related to all-causes death rates.

Lifestyle correlates of anthropometric estimates of body adiposity in an Italian middle-aged and elderly population: a covariance analysis

“…16 It is now well known that both body composition (lean and fat mass) and body fat distribution (the body shape) play a major role in causing morbidity and mortality. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] In particular, lower levels of muscle mass and subcutaneous fat are associated with an increased risk of cancer mortality; 26 excess intra-abdominal fat, as measured by large waist circumference (WC), is associated with an increased risk of developing a number of chronic diseases (including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease), 27,28 whereas larger hip circumference (HC) independently predicts good health and is associated with a better metabolic profile. [29][30][31] In order to obtain a more complete picture of the relationship between behavioural factors and body adiposity, we examined the association of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors with anthropometric estimates of overall fatness and regional (intra-abdominal and subcutaneous) fat accumulation adjusting for potential confounders.…”

Body mass index and weight change from adolescence into adulthood, waist-to-hip ratio and perceived work ability among young adults

“…1 The body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2 ) shows a J-or U-shaped association with mortality from all causes over a long follow-up time, 2,3 and overweight and obesity increase the risk of disability and early retirement, [4][5][6] mainly due to increased morbidity with respect to obesity-related conditions such as cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases. An increased risk of disability from mental diseases was also noted among the obese in a Swedish study of middle-aged men, 5 but not in a Finnish study of 25 to 64-y-old men and women.…”

Mortality associated with body fat, fat-free mass and body mass index among 60-year-old Swedish men—a 22-year follow-up. The study of men born in 1913

“…1 However, traditionally, overweight estimated from relative weight indices, such as the body mass index (BMI), is used to describe obesity. Simple measures like skinfolds have been used to assess the body fat morbidity association, 2,3 but only a few studies have measured body fat by advanced methodology, and these studies have not included a suf®cient number of participants to attribute mortality to obesity. Therefore, all public health recommendations regarding obesity are based on studies relating relative weight to health.…”