Short stature,abdominal obesity,insulin resistance and alterations in lipid profile in very low-income women living in Maceió,north-eastern Brazil

Abstract

Objective

To test the hypothesis that short stature is associated with abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and lipid profile changes.

Methods

Anthropometric data were collected from 237 women (18–60 years old), residents of a shantytown in Maceió. Biochemical profiles of 60 individuals drawn from this population were determined.

Results

Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and insulin resistance rose with increasing waist:hip circumference ratio, particularly in women. Short, overweight individuals exhibited larger biochemical alterations than overweight individuals of average stature.

Conclusion

Short stature, when associated with overweight, is a risk factor for increased insulin resistance and alterations in lipid profile.