Waist to Hip Ratio

We evaluated the association of physical activity and diet with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels among subjects with abdominal obesity. During 2001-2002, we enrolled 625 men (18 to 87 years old) and 712 women (18 to 89 years old) with abdominal obesity (waist-to-hip ratio ≥0.95 in men and ≥0.8 in women) from the Attica area, Greece. The sampling was stratified by the age-gender distribution of the region (census 2001). Among several variables, we also measured plasma high-sensitivity CRP, physical activity status, dietary habits, blood lipids, and blood pressure levels. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated through a diet score (0 to 55) that assessed the inherent characteristics of the diet. Compared with those with low CRP levels, subjects with high CRP levels (ie, >3.0 mg/L) were physically inactive (P = .01), were less likely to adopt the Mediterranean diet (P = .008), had higher glucose levels, had a higher prevalence of hypertension, had a lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and had increased smoking habits and higher anthropometric indices (all P < .05). Moreover, adoption of the Mediterranean diet in combination with medium physical activity seems to reduce the likelihood of having high CRP levels by 72% (P = .018), irrespective of smoking and various clinical and biological characteristics. Among subjects with abdominal obesity, low-grade systemic inflammation appears to be associated with the adoption of an unfavorable lifestyle, including physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits, as well as increased blood pressure levels and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

BACKGROUND: There are growing concern globally regarding fast food consumption and its related cardiometabolic outcomes. In this study we investigated whether fast food consumption could affect the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) after 3-years of follow-up in adults. METHODS: This longitudinal study was conducted in the framework of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study on 1476 adults, aged 19-70 y. The usual intakes of participants were measured using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Biochemical and anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline (2006)(2007)(2008) and 3 years later (2009)(2010)(2011). Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the occurrence of the MetS in each quartile of fast food consumption. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 37.8 ± 12.3 y, and mean BMI was 26.0 ± 4.5 kg/m 2 at baseline. Participants in the highest quartile of fast food consumption were younger (33.7 vs 43.4 years, Po0.01). Higher consumption of fast food was accompanied with more increase in serum triglyceride levels and triglyceride to HDL-C ratio after the 3-year follow-up. After adjustment for all potential confounding variables, the risk of metabolic syndrome, in the highest quartile of fast foods compared with the lowest, was 1.85 (95% CI ¼ 1.17-2.95). The effects of fast food consumption on the occurrence of MetS were more pronounced in younger adults (o30 years), and participants who had greater wait to hip ratio, consumed less phytochemical-rich foods or had low-fiber diet (Po0.05). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that higher consumption of fast foods had undesirable effects on metabolic syndrome after 3-years of follow-up in Iranian adults.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a major cardiovascular risk factor, and early-onset ( -40 years) type 2 diabetes is becoming more common. Aim: To determine the prevalence of complications, and cardiovascular risk factors at diagnosis, in early-onset type 2 diabetes, and to compare these between South Asians and Europeans. Design: Prospective study of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients aged -40 years, attending hospital and primary care clinics 1999±2001. Methods: Patients were assessed for signs of macrovascular disease, retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. Cardiovascular risk factors were also determined.

Purpose To investigate the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-VD) concentrations and metabolic parameters in obese and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods One hundred women with PCOS were divided into two groups, obese and non-obese, according to their body mass index (BMI). Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), Ferriman-Gallwey score, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, 25-OH-VD, LH/FSH, total testosterone, and DHEAS were measured. Results The serum 25-OH-VD mean levels were 56.31% lower in the obese PCOS patients. There was an association of increased HOMA-IR, BMI, WHR, triglycerides, total testosterone, and DHEAS with decreased 25-OH-VD concentrations in the obese PCOS patients. Conclusion Low serum 25-OH-VD concentrations result from the presence of obesity and insulin resistance. However, the dependency between PCOS and hypovitaminosis D is questionable. Hypovitaminosis D should be kept in mind while managing obese women with PCOS.

The prevalence of hyperuricemia has rarely been investigated in developing countries. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of hyperuricemia and the association between uric acid levels and the various cardiovascular risk factors in a developing country with high average blood pressures (the Seychelles, Indian Ocean, population mainly of African origin).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risks of height, weight and body fat distribution associated with colon cancer in subcategories of gender, age and site in the colon. Interaction with family history of colorectal cancer is also examined. DESIGN: Case-control study of diet, anthropometry and colon cancer risk. SUBJECTS: Nineteen hundred and eighty-three colon cancer cases (age 30±79 y) and 2400 age and gender matched population controls. MEASUREMENTS: Height, weight and waist and hip circumferences were obtained by trained interviewers. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) were calculated. RESULTS: Of all anthropometric measurements examined, only BMI was consistently associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. The test for trend for BMI was signi®cant for men and women overall and for the majority of subgroups examined. In younger persons those with a family history of colorectal cancer had a greater risk of colon cancer associated with BMI (Men odds ratio (OR) 7.76, 95% con®dence interval (CI) 2.60, 23.1; Women OR 4.85, 95% CI 2.33, 10.12) comparing the third tertile to the ®rst, than those with no family history (Men OR 1.70 95% CI 1.25, 2.32; Women OR 1.53 95% CI 1.22, 1.92). WHR, after controlling for BMI was not associated with colon cancer in men, and was associated with a slight increase in women (primarily in those with distal tumors). CONCLUSION: This study contributes to mounting evidence that excess weight is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.

Several studies show a relationship between abdominal obesity and cardiovascular diseases, partially mediated through an altered metabolism of dyslipidemia. The present study was aimed at testing the robustness of this association across three contrasted populations and at assessing the performances of abdominal obesity as a screening tool for dyslipidemia. Data were drawn from three population health surveys recently conducted in two regions of a developed country (Switzerland, mostly of Caucasian origin, n ϭ 2650) and in a less developed country (Seychelles, Indian Ocean, mostly of black descent, n ϭ 806). Dyslipidemia was defined as a ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC-HDL) greater than 5. Two anthropometric circumference measurements, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC), were used to define abdominal obesity either as WHR у 0.9 in men and WHR у 0.8 in women or as WC у 94 cm and WC у 80 cm, respectively. A consistent direct association between abdominal obesity and dyslipidemia (odds ratios varying from 1.85 to 4.56) was found in the three populations, independently of gender, age, body mass index, blood pressure, and smoking. This consistency across ethnicities and environments strengthens the hypothesis of a common etiopathological mechanism. The sensitivity for detecting dyslipidemia was generally higher for abdominal obesity, based on either WHR or WC, than for criteria based on the other risk factors under study. In addition, the sensitivity was higher in the study populations with a low prevalence of dyslipidemia (Swiss women and Seychellois of both sexes) than in the others. These findings support that WHR and WC may be useful as simple and inexpensive screening tools to select individuals eligible for more sophisticated and costly serum lipid determinations, especially in developing countries.

To account for male preferences for female body weight following a consistent socio-economic pattern, Nelson and Morrison (2005) proposed a social-cognitive model based on the individual experience of resource scarcity. We replicated their studies showing that calorific dissatisfaction can influence preference for female body weight using a different dependent variable, namely photographic stimuli of women with known body weight and shape. Using this revised methodology, we found that operationalized intra-individual resource scarcity affects preferences for body weight: 30 hungry male participants preferred figures with a higher body weight and rated as more attractive heavier figures than 31 satiated male participants. Hungrier men were also less likely to be influenced by cues for body shape, supporting extant cross-cultural studies on female physical attractiveness. These findings corroborate those of Nelson and Morrison (2005) and are discussed in terms of how cultural contexts shape individual psychological experience as predicted by the theory of mutual constitution.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on novel cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We enrolled 52 overweight/obese, type 2 diabetic patients, with inadequate glycemic control (HbA1c [ 6.5 %), but without overt diabetic vascular complications. Participants were randomly assigned into two equivalent groups (n = 26): (1) Resistance exercise group: subjects underwent a supervised RT program (3-times/week, 60 min/session, 2-3 sets of 8 machine-weight exercises, 60-80 % of onerepetition maximum). (2) Control group (CG): at study entrance, they received a structured exercise counseling to increase daily physical activity. Clinical parameters, cardiorespiratory capacity, glycemic and lipid profile, apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), highsensitivity CRP (hsCRP), fibrinogen were measured before and after 3 months. RT significantly reduced glycemic indexes, insulin resistance and systolic blood pressure, compared to CG (p \ 0.05). Moreover, exercise-treated patients conferred a remarkable downregulation in ApoB levels (from 135.92 ± 30.97 mg/dL to 85.9 ± 26.46 mg/dL, p \ 0.001) as compared to CG (from 126.33 ± 36.59 mg/dL to 116.23 ± 27.52 mg/dL, p = 0.872) (p \ 0.001). Similarly, ApoB/ApoA-I ratio was considerably decreased in REG rather than CG (-0.32 ± 0.09 vs 0.02 ± 0.01, p \ 0.001). Notably, ApoA-I, Lp(a), hsCRP, fibrinogen, the rest of lipid parameters, body weight and exercise capacity remained unaltered in both groups (p [ 0.05). Among variables, HOMA-IR reduction was found to be an independent predictor of changes in ApoB/ApoA-I ratio (R 2 = 0.406, p = 0.041) in REG. Long-term RT ameliorated glycemic control, insulin sensitivity and ApoB/ApoA-I ratio in individuals with T2DM. Although we did not observe significant benefits in the rest of cardiovascular risk factors, our results indicate a merely beneficial impact of RT.

This study evaluates effects of weight loss on regional fat distribution and compares waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and computed tomography (CT) as methods of assessing body fat distribution in 16 premenopausal obese women (body weight 104.3 ± 18.1 kg. WHR 0.84 ± 0.08). Mean weight loss was 6.6 kg after 2 wk on a very-low-energy diet (VLED) and 16 kg after

Studies of human physical traits and mate preferences often use questionnaires asking participants to rate the attractiveness of images. Female waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), breast size, and facial appearance have all been implicated in assessments by men of female attractiveness. However, very little is known about how men make fine-grained visual assessments of such images. We used eye-tracking techniques to measure the numbers of visual fixations, dwell times, and initial fixations made by men who viewed front-posed photographs of the same woman, computer-morphed so as to differ in her WHR (0.7 or 0.9) and breast size (small, medium, or large). Men also rated these images for attractiveness. Results showed that the initial visual fixation (occurring within 200 ms from the start of each 5 s test) involved either the breasts or the waist. Both these body areas received more first fixations than the face or the lower body (pubic area and legs). Men looked more often and for longer at the breasts, irrespective of the WHR of the images. However, men rated images with an hourglass shape and a slim waist (0.7 WHR) as most attractive, irrespective of breast size. These results provide quantitative data on eye movements that occur during male judgments of the attractiveness of female images, and indicate that assessments of the female hourglass figure probably occur very rapidly.

Objective: We evaluated the prevalence of obesity in relation to adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey that randomly enrolled 1514 men (18 to 87 y old) and 1528 women (18 to 89 y old) with no history of cardiovascular disease. Anthropometric indices were measured and frequency of various foods consumed during a usual week was recorded. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet was assessed by a diet score that incorporated the inherent characteristics of this diet. Results: Prevalences of overweight and obesity were 53% and 20% in men and 31% and 15% in women. An inverse relation was observed between diet score, waist-to-hip ratio (r ϭ Ϫ0.31, P Ͻ 0.001), and body mass index (r ϭ Ϫ0.4, P Ͻ 0.001) after adjusting for sex and age. Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet (i.e., highest tertile) was associated with a 51% lower odds of being obese (odds ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval 0.42 to 0.56) and a 59% lower odds of having central obesity (odds ratio 0.41, 95% confidence 0.35 to 0.47) compared with a non-Mediterranean diet (i.e., lowest tertile) after controlling for age, sex, physical activity status, metabolism, and other variables. Conclusion: We observed an inverse relation between adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern and prevalence of obesity in a free-eating, population-based sample of men and women, irrespective of various potential confounders.

Caralluma fimbriata is an edible cactus, used by tribal Indians to suppress hunger and enhance endurance. The effect of Caralluma extract was assessed in overweight individuals by a placebo controlled randomized trial. Fifty adult men and women (25-60 years) with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m 2 were randomly assigned into a placebo or experimental group; the latter received 1 g of Caralluma extract per day for 60 days. All subjects were given standard advice regarding a weight reducing diet and physical activity. At the end of 30 and 60 days of intervention, blood glucose and lipids, anthropometric measurements, dietary intake and assessment of appetite was performed. Waist circumference and hunger levels over the observation period showed a significant decline in the experimental group when compared to the placebo group. While there was a trend towards a greater decrease in body weight, body mass index, hip circumference, body fat and energy intake between assessment time points in the experimental group, these were not significantly different between experimental and placebo groups. Caralluma extract appears to suppress appetite, and reduce waist circumference when compared to placebo over a 2 month period. r

Objective: To describe the relation between body composition and age measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in healthy Japanese adults.Design: Cross-sectional study.Subjects and measurements: The subjects were 2411 healthy Japanese adults (males 625, females 1786, age 20–79 y) who attended the Fukuoka Health Promotion Center, Fukuoka, Japan for health check-up. Body composition was determined by DXA (QDR-2000, Hologic) for the

Ninety-six Malaysian and British men rated for physical attractiveness a set of photographs of real women in profile, with known body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Results showed that BMI accounted for the greater amount of variance in all settings. There were also significant differences in preferences for body weight, with low resource, low socioeconomic status (SES) raters preferring a significantly heavier partner than high resource, high SES raters. The disparity with previous findings using line drawings of women in profile was discussed in terms of the weaknesses of line-drawn stimuli.

Three purported cues to perceived male physical attractiveness are the waist-to-chest ratio (WCR), body mass index (BMI) and the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). This study examined the relative contribution of each cue in several socio-economically distinct populations. Ninety-five female participants from Britain and Malaysia were asked to rate a set of images of real men with known WCR, BMI and WHR. The results showed clear differences along a gradient of socio-economic development. In urban settings, WCR was the primary component of attractiveness ratings, with BMI playing a smaller role and WHR not reaching significance. In the rural setting, BMI was the primary predictor of attractiveness, with WCR playing a more minor role and WHR not reaching significance. In general, urban participants were more reliant on body shape and chose a relatively slim figure with an ‘inverted triangle’ shape; rural participants were more reliant on body weight and chose a heavier figure with a less triangular shape. These findings are discussed in terms of evolutionary psychological explanations of mate selection and sociological theories that emphasise the effect of resource scarcity on preferences for body shapes and sizes.

AFRICA 249 the relationship between indices of iron status and selected anthropometric cardiovascular disease risk markers in an african population: the tHUsa study OR ADERIBIGBE, PT PISA, RL MAMABOLO, hS KRUGER, hh vORSTER abstract There is evidence that certain indices of iron status are associated with anthropometric measures, which are used independently as markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study examined whether this association exists in an African population. The study was a cross-sectional comparative study that examined a total of 1 854 African participants. Ferritin was positively associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat and subscapular skinfold thickness. Serum ferritin concentration was higher in the high-WHR category than the normal-WHR category for both genders. Additionally, WC and WHR increased with increasing ferritin concentrations in both genders. Serum iron was lower in the obese than the normal-weight and pre-obese women only. In this population-based study, increased serum ferritin concentrations associated positively with increased WHR and WC, indicating that individuals or populations at risk of iron overload as defined by high serum ferritin concentrations may be at a greater risk of developing CVD.

Background: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder and the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The use of Nigella sativa, a potent herbal medicine, continues to increase worldwide as an alternative treatment of several chronic diseases including hyperlipidemia, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of Nigella sativa on thyroid function, serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)-1, Nesfatin-1 and anthropometric features in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Methods: Forty patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, aged between 22 and 50 years old, participated in the trial and were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control receiving powdered Nigella sativa or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Changes in anthropometric variables, dietary intakes, thyroid status, serum VEGF and Nesfatin-1 concentrations after 8 weeks were measured. Results: Treatment with Nigella sativa significantly reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI). Serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies decreased while serum T3 concentrations increased in Nigella sativa-treated group after 8 weeks. There was a significant reduction in serum VEGF concentrations in intervention group. None of these changes had been observed in placebo treated group. In stepwise multiple regression model, changes in waist to hip ratio (WHR) and thyroid hormones were significant predictors of changes in serum VEGF and Nesgfatin-1 values in Nigella sativa treated group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our data showed a potent beneficial effect of powdered Nigella sativa in improving thyroid status and anthropometric variables in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Moreover, Nigella sativa significantly reduced serum VEGF concentrations in these patients. Considering observed health-promoting effect of this medicinal plant in ameliorating the disease severity, it can be regarded as a useful therapeutic approach in management of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Trial registration: Iranian registry of clinical trials (registration number IRCT2015021719082N4-Registered March-15-2015).

Artigo recebido em 29/08/08; revisado recebido em 17/03/09; aceito em 11/05/09. Introdução A síndrome de resistência à insulina (RI) é um dos principais fatores de risco para as doenças cardiovasculares, apresentando elevada morbimortalidade e elevados custos socioeconômicos. A RI, considerada o elo entre as demais alterações fisiológicas que compõem o complexo quadro dessa síndrome, está associada à obesidade visceral, à hipertensão arterial, à intolerância à glicose, ao diabete tipo 2, às dislipidemias, à hiperuricemia, entre outras alterações metabólicas 1-3 . A avaliação da RI tem recebido considerável atenção nos últimos anos. No Brasil, a determinação da RI ainda não faz parte dos exames médicos de rotina e não está disponível na e14 Atualização Clínica Vasques e cols. Antropometria e resistência à insulina Arq Bras Cardiol 2010; 95(1) : e14-e23 Vasques e cols. Antropometria e resistência à insulina Arq Bras Cardiol 2010; 95(1) : e14-e23

This study tested the differences between restrained and nonrestrained eaters' attractiveness perceptions of female line drawings, of their own figures, and the ideal female figure. Female line drawings varied systematically in body weight and in waist and hip circumference. Forty-six female undergraduate students, 23 nonrestrainers and 23 restrainers, rated stimuli in attractiveness, identified the figure which best represented their own body type (PAF), and the ideal body figure (IF) according to the Restraint Scale [RS; Herman, C. P., & Polivy, J. (1980). Restrained eating. In: A. Stunkard (Ed.), Obesity (pp. 208-225). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders].

Objectives. To estimate the sizes of the external genital organs in physically normal adult males younger than 40 years old, as well as to correlate the resulting values with age and a number of somatometric parameters, to provide data that could be clinically applicable by the practicing urologist. Methods. Fifty-two physically normal men, 19 to 38 years old, underwent tape measurements of penile dimensions in the flaccid-stretched state (total, shaft, glanular lengths), penile shaft volume calculation, and ultrasonographic testicular volume estimation. The resultant values were correlated with age, height, weight, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, and index finger length. Results. The mean testicular volume was 16.9 Ϯ 4.7 cm 3 , with the right testis (17.5 Ϯ 5.8 cm 3 ) measuring slightly larger than the left (15.85 Ϯ 4.9 cm 3 ; P ϭ not significant). The mean total penile length was 12.18 Ϯ 1.7 cm, the mean penile shaft length was 7.76 Ϯ 1.3 cm, the mean glanular length was 4.4 Ϯ 0.4 cm, and the mean penile shaft volume was 46.5 Ϯ 17.2 cm 3 . Among the various correlations performed, the penile lengths (total, shaft, glanular) to index finger length (P Ͻ0.05) and to penile shaft volume (P Ͻ0.001) were statistically significant. Conclusions. Data on the size of the external genital organs among physically normal young adult men were provided and a novel formula for penile shaft volume calculation was proposed. Age and somatometric parameters were not associated with the size of the genitalia, excluding the index finger length, which correlated significantly with the dimensions of the flaccid, maximally stretched, penis. UROLOGY 60: 485-491, 2002. © 2002,

Female waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) has been proposed by evolutionary psychologists to be an important component of human male mate choice, because this trait is thought to provide a reliable cue to a woman's reproductive value. Based largely on work conducted in industrialized societies, the claim has been made that preferences for low WHR are culturally invariant. Presumably, the preferences evolved before the advent of agriculture, making foraging populations the best place to test the hypothesis. This was done with the Hadza of Tanzania, who were shown figures of females that varied by weight and waist-to-hip ratio. Low WHR was not preferred. Hadza men did not consider waist-to-hip ratio when expressing preferences for mates. Instead, they were most interested in the weight of potential partners. Research by others with subjects who practice swidden agriculture also revealed that low WHR was not preferred. The data from the Hadza coupled with the information derived from this horticultural group bring into question whether preferences for low WHR are culturally invariant.

Human mate preferences are related to many morphological traits, such as female waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), male height or facial symmetry. People also vary in preferences for sexual dimorphism in stature (SDS = male height/female height) between themselves and a potential partner. Here, we demonstrate that women adjust their preference for SDS not only in relation to their own height but also in relation to (1) the phase of menstrual cycle during which their preferences were studied and (2) the sexual strategy (short- versus long-term) they were asked to choose. Taller males (larger SDS) were preferred more often when women were in the follicular (i.e. fertile) phase of their menstrual cycle and when the partners were chosen for short-term relationships. These effects were independent of woman's height. The results show that women in a potentially fertile phase of their menstrual cycle and when choosing a partner who might be less likely to invest in children select genes of taller males.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is an impending epidemic. This article is an overview of different interventions conducted in school settings so as to guide efforts for an effective management of obesity in children, thus minimizing the risk of adult obesity and related cardiovascular risk.

Mate preferences are condition dependent (i.e., females in better biological condition might be more demanding with respect to fitnessrelevant male traits). Such traits usually indicate male biological quality or ability to secure resources that could be invested in offspring. Here we study female preferences for male resources, commitment, attractiveness, good sense of humor, and sensuality (when seeking both longterm and short-term partners) in relation to women's morphological traits such as height, weight, waist and hip girth, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). We show that preferences for resources and attractiveness do indeed depend on women's phenotype. Women with relatively lower WHR and BMI more strongly prefer resources in a potential long-term partner than those with higher WHR and BMI. However, when controlling for age, place of residence, and whether they have had children, it is WHR (but not BMI) that influences female preference for resources and attractiveness. Women with higher WHR (those who, according to many studies, are considered as less attractive) are more prone to prefer physical attractiveness in a potential long-term partner. Furthermore, despite commitment having received the highest score in a long-term context, the preference for this trait in a potential partner was not related to women's body morphology. We suggest evolutionary and proximate explanations for such condition-dependent preferences.

When it comes to fashion I am usually the last person to notice trends. I recently came across two interesting articles that indicated that the fashion industry is trying to scam its customers. The first one was the more obvious scam of Calvin Klein trying to sell a girl with a perfectly healthy BMI as a plus-size model (see picture). The less obvious scam became clear to me when I read the second article titled Why is the hourglass figure the only version of plus size that we see? So, let's start our research. The hourglass figure is supposed to occur only in about 8% of all women, so it is not representative of all overweight or obese women. Those who cheer the trend of plus-size models should be aware of it. While doing my research on plus-size models, I saw several people asking "How do I become a plus-size model?" It should be clear by now that 92% of women are excluded from the club merely by having a different body shape. Why does the fashion industry exclude 92% of women? The obvious answer is that they aren't as attractive when overweight.

Evidence has accumulated in recent years supporting the hypothesis that both facial and bodily physical attractiveness in humans are certifications of developmental and hormonal health. Such evidence indicates that physical attractiveness is an honest or Zahavian signal of phenotypic and genetic quality. The hypothesis that physical beauty connotes health was first proposed by Westermarck and was discussed later by Ellis

Morphological features such as overall body fat, body fat distribution, as measured by waist-to-hip ratio, breast size, and hip width have been proposed to influence female attractiveness and desirability. To determine how the variations of these morphological features interact and affect the judgment of female age, attractiveness, and desirability for romantic relationships, two studies were conducted. In Study 1, college-age men rated female figures differing in body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and breast size for age, attractiveness, health, and desirability for short-and long-term relationships. Female figures with slender bodies, low waist-to-hip ratios, and large breasts were rated as most attractive, feminine looking, healthy, and desirable for casual and long-term romantic relationships. In Study 2, female figures with similar body weight and waist-to-hip ratios but differing hip widths and breast sizes were rated for the same attributes as in Study 1. Female figures with large breasts and narrow hips were rated as most youthful, attractive, and desirable for casual and long-term romantic relationships. It seems that larger body size, a high waist-to-hip ratio, and larger hips make the female figure appear older, unattractive, and less desirable for engaging in romantic relationships. Discussion focuses on the functional significance of interactions among various morphological features in determining female attractiveness.

In women of reproductive age, a gynoid body fat distribution as measured by the size of waist-hip ratio (WHR) is a reliable indicator of their sex hormone profile, greater success in pregnancy and less risk for major diseases. According to evolutionary mate selection theory, such indicators of health and fertility should be judged as attractive. Previous research has confirmed this prediction. In this current research, we use the same stimulus for diverse racial groups (Bakossiland, Cameroon, Africa; Komodo Island, Indonesia; Samoa; and New Zealand) to examine the universality of relationships between WHR and attractiveness. As WHR is positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), we controlled BMI by using photographs of women who have gone through micrograft surgery for cosmetic reasons. Results show that in each culture participants selected women with low WHR as attractive, regardless of increases or decreases in BMI. This cross-cultural consensus suggests that the link between WHR and female attractiveness is due to adaptation shaped by the selection process.

To determine the prevalence of generalized and abdominal obesity in urban Asian Indians and compare the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with metabolic risk variables. Methods: Subjects were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES) carried out between 2001 and 2004 and involved 2350/2600 eligible subjects (response rate 90.4%). Anthropometric measurements, lipids and oral glucose tolerance tests were carried out. Generalized obesity (BMIX23 kg m À2 ) and abdominal obesity (WCX90 cm in men and X80 cm in women) were defined using WHO Asia Pacific guidelines. Results: The age standardized prevalence of generalized obesity was 45.9% (95% CI: 43.9-47.9%), (women: 47.4%; men: 43.2%, P ¼ 0.210), while that of abdominal obesity was 46.6% (95% CI: 44.6-48.6%), (women: 56.2%4 men: 35.1%, Po0.001). Area under the curve for identifying subjects with any three metabolic risk factors using BMI was 0.66, 95% CI: 0.63-0.69, Po0.001, while, for WC, it was 0.70, 95% CI: 0.66-0.74, Po0.001 for men, and 0.69, 95% CI: 0.65-0.74, Po0.001 for women. Isolated generalized obesity (normal WC, increased BMI) was present in 12.7% of men and 6.1% of women. Isolated abdominal obesity (increased WC, normal BMI) was present in 4.7% of men and 14% of women. Combined obesity was present in 32.6% of men and 43.3% of women. Conclusions: In Asian Indians, the prevalence of combined obesity is high among both sexes, while isolated generalized obesity is more common in men and isolated abdominal obesity more common in women. However, these prevalence rates vary markedly depending on cut points used. WC is a better marker of obesity-related metabolic risk than BMI in women compared to men in this population.

Canadian female rowers were evaluated for their anthropometrical characteristics including somatotype and body composition to evaluate them with their international counterparts. 31 female rowers with an average age of 28.6 ±3.4 ( range 19-33) yr of different local clubs were assessed during their peak season time. Part of the measurements were done during the fulfilment of assignment for ISAK Kianthropometry accreditation course in Canada and part of the measurements were done during the fitness assessment of rowers at local clubs. Somatotype was assessed using Heath-Carter method and body composition (Fat%) was assessed by surface anthropometry. Endomorphic mesomorph (3.1±0.5 ─4.1±0.6 ─2.3±0.7 ) body type was observed in average with an average 23.4(±2.9) % body fat. Average waist-hip ratio was 0.74 (±0.4) .Canadian female rowers of the present study possessed more than average muscularity with slightly higher body fat % . The present study recommended more muscularity with less body fat % for the Canadian female rowers. The study also recommended a change in body type from endomorphic mesomorph to ectomorphic mesomoeph .

To evaluate the reliability of the sagittal abdominal diameter and its validity as a predictor of visceral abdominal fat, as well as to identify the most appropriate cut-off points to identify the area of visceral fat that is known to represent a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Design: Validation study. Subjects: 92 healthy volunteers (57 women, 35 men), age: 20-83 y, body mass index: 19.3 to 35.9 kg/m 2 . Measurements: Sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), weight, height, circumferences (waist, hip, and thigh), sub-scapular skinfold thickness, abdominal diameter index, and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Method of choice: Computed tomography (CT). Statistic: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The reliability for SAD measurement was very high (Inter-class coefficient = 0.99). Visceral fat as measured by VAF through CT was highly correlated with SAD (women r = 0.80; men r = 0.64, p < 0.001), waist circumference (women r = 0.77; men r = 0.73, p < 0.001), and WHR (women r = 0.72; men r = 0.58, p < 0.001). The ROC curve indicated 19.3 cm and 20.5 cm as the threshold values for abdominal sagittal diameter in women and men (sensitivity 85% and 83%, specificity 77% and 82%, respectively). Conclusions: There was a high correlation between SAD and VAF. The cut-off values identified for SAD presented a sensitivity and specificity that were considered adequate. (Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab 2007;51/6:980-986) RESUMO Validade e Confiabilidade do Diâmetro Abdominal Sagital Enquanto Preditor de Gordura Abdominal Visceral.

Men and women at Northwest University (n ¼ 631), Xi'an, China, were asked to rate the attractiveness of male or female figures manipulated to vary somatotype, waist-tohip ratio (WHR), secondary sexual traits, and other features. In study 1, women rated the average masculine somatotype as most attractive, followed by the mesomorphic (muscular), ectomorphic (slim), and endomorphic (heavily built) somatotypes, in descending order of preference. In study 2, the amount and distribution of masculine trunk (chest and abdominal) hair were altered progressively in a series of front-posed figures. Women rated figures with no or little trunk hair as most attractive. Study 3 assessed the attractiveness of front-posed male figures which varied only in length of their nonerect penis. Numerical ratings for this trait were low, but moderate lengthening of the penis (22% or 33% above average) resulted in a significant increase in scores for attractiveness. In study 4, Chinese men rated the attractiveness of backposed female images varying in waist-to-hip ratio (WHR from 0.5-1.0). The 0.6 WHR figure was most preferred, followed by 0.7, while figures with higher ratios (0.9 or 1.0) were significantly less attractive. Study 5 rated the attractiveness of female skin color: men expressed a marked preference for images which were lighter in color, as compared to images of average or darker skin colors. These results, the first of their kind reported for a Chinese population, support the view that sexual selection has influenced the evolution of human physique and sexual attractiveness in men and women. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 19:88-95, 2007.

ESPOSITO, KATHERINE, RAFFAELE MARFELLA, PASQUALE GUALDIERO, CATERINA CARUSONE, ALESSANDRO PONTILLO, GIOVANNI GIUGLIANO, GIANFRANCO NICOLETTI, AND DARIO GIUGLIANO. Sympathovagal balance, nighttime blood pressure, and QT intervals in normotensive obese women. Obes Res. 2003;11: 653-659. Objective: We describe associations among the heart-ratecorrected QT (QTc) interval, QTc dispersion (QTc-d), circadian BP variation, and autonomic function in obese normotensive women and the effect of sustained weight loss.

Men are attracted to the movements of women's bodies. The aim of this paper is to answer the question: what is the mechanism? The role of the peak shift effect in perceptions of physical attractiveness involving women‟s waist-to-hip ratios (WHRs) in biological motion is presented. Photographs of a coordinated motor pattern, walking, are investigated with a novel measurement method. Evidence is presented that the behavior pattern contains alternating left and right side, attractive (S+) and unattractive (S-), WHR stimuli. A WHR stimulus range is established that is sufficient to generate peak shift effects in perceptions of physical attractiveness. It is predicted that WHRs in attractive behavior patterns will be significantly lower than those previously found to be preferred using 0.70 WHR still images. Therefore WHRs in motion represent S++, or “supernormal stimuli”, in behavior.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of dyslipidaemia, central obesity, hypertension and/or insulin resistance, is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) type 2 diabetes risk. Different diagnostic criteria for MetS have been proposed but in 2009 a joint statement by several scientific societies was released. Apart from the diagnostic criteria, MetS has also been associated with other risk factors including waist to hip ratio, high density lipoprotein dysfunction, small dense low density lipoprotein, postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia, lipoprotein (a), uric acid, liver function tests, prothrombotic factors, cytokines, adipokines, vitamin D, arterial stiffness, renal dysfunction, nephrolithiasis, polycystic ovary syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea. We discuss the extensive list of MetS-associated factors that may influence vascular risk. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of frequently prescribed drugs (e.g. hypolipidaemic agents) on these variables. These effects may n...