Adiposity, lipids, alcohol consumption, smoking, and gender

Indices of obesity, plasma lipids, and lipoprotein levels, plasma cholesteryl ester fatty acid composition, reported alcohol consumption and smoking habits were measured in 88 men and 87 women, ages over 15 years, randomly selected from the total respondents (1192) to a health survey. Most indices of obesity were related to plasma triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein levels in both sexes; to very low-density lipoprotein levels in men only; and to plasma cholesteryl ester fatty acid linoleic acid proportions in women only. The correlations with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were dependent on very low-density lipoprotein triglyceride levels in men but not in women. Indices of obesity were significantly higher in nonsmoking women and reported alcohol consumption correlated with Quetelet's index (body mass index) in men. Smoking habits, but not alcohol consumption, influenced correlations between indices of obesity and plasma triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein triglyceride levels in men. The present results showed several sex-related differences in relationships with indices of obesity. Lower very low-density lipoprotein levels, higher skinfold measurements, higher cholesteryl ester fatty acid linoleic acid proportions and lower alcohol intake in women than in men may be responsible. The data suggested that in women, altered diet composition may be linked with obesity.