Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the usefulness of skinfold measurement (SM method) and standard body weight (SBW method) as a method of mass screening for obesity. Percent body fat (% fat) was estimated from the sum of the triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness, and relative body weight (RBW) was calculated from standard body weight. Subjects who were over 20% of % fat and/or over 12% of RBW were defined as obese.
Subjects were 5189 males, aged 30 to 69 years, and were divided into 4 groups. Group A consisted of 3663 males who were normal both in % fat and RBW. Group B consisted of 487 subjects who were obese in % fat but are normal in RBW. Group C consisted of 479 subjects who were normal in % fat but are obese in RBW. Group D consisted of 560 subjects who were obese in both % fat and RBW.
There were no significant differences between the group B and C in the mean values of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C), β-lipoprotein (β-L), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and appearance rate of abnormal values in TC, HDL-C, β-L, TG, FBS, GPT, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) . However, these groups showed significantly higher mean values in TC, β-L, TG, FBS, GPT and significantly lower mean values in HDL-C and showed signigicantly higher appearance rate of abnormal values in TC, HDL-C, β-L, TG, FBS, GPT, γ-GTP than group A.
Further comparison between group B and C revealed that group C showed significantly higher mean value in TG and showed significantly higher appearance rate of abnormal values in TG and γ-GTP than group B.
From these results, it is concluded tha the SBW method is more closely related to abnormalities in lipids metabolism and liver function than the SM method.
