Aim: Loss or gain in obesity indexes, such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), may affect serum lipid parameters. We therefore analyzed the impact of changes in WC and BMI over a one-year period on serum levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG).
Methods: We analyzed the data of 3,111 individuals who were not on lipid- lowering medication and who underwent general health screening two years running.
Results: The correlation between percent changes of WC (%dWC) and BMI (%dBMI) were both statistically significantly correlated with percent changes in LDL-C (%dLDL), HDL-C (%dHDL), and TG (%dTG) except that between %dWC and %dHDL in women. In multiple regression analysis, %dBMI, but not %dWC, was found to be an independent predictor of %dLDL, %dHDL, and %dTG. When %dBMI was excluded from the variables, %dWC was identified as an independent factor predicting %dLDL and %dTG; however, in individuals with %dBMI of ≥0, %dWC was not found to be a predictor of percent changes in any lipid parameters tested in this model.
Conclusion: Percent changes in BMI were found to be an independent predictor of adverse changes in lipid parameters in both genders. Although percent changes in WC (%dWC) also tended to confer adverse changes in lipid parameters, this relationship did not remain statistically significant after controlling for %dBMI. It is suggested that changes in obesity parameters are an important goal to avoid adverse lipid changes, although there might be some gender differences.