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Relation of Obesity and Body Fat Distribution to Endometrial Cancer in Shanghai, China¹

Department of Epidemiology, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai 20032, People's Republic of China [X. O. S., W. Z., Y-T. G.]; Division of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032 [X. O. S., M. C. H.]; and Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 [L. A. B., C. A. S., J. F. F.]

In a case-control study involving 268 cases of endometrial cancer and an equal number of population controls, we assessed the relationship of risk to body weight and fat distribution, examining weight at various ages and current anthropometric measurements. Weight gain during later adulthood and resultant high body masses were important risk predictors, indicating that obesity is an important risk factor, even in an area where the prevalence of obesity and incidence of endometrial cancer are low. Certain fat distribution patterns were related to risk of endometrial cancer independent of general obesity. In particular, fat deposits on the trunk were associated with elevated risks, with the odds ratio for the highest versus lowest quartile of subscapular skinfolds remaining significant even after adjustment for body mass index (odds ratio = 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–7.3). Central versus peripheral obesity, as measured by the subscapular:triceps ratio, also was related to increased risk, although the association failed to remain significant after adjustment for body mass (highest to lowest quartile, odds ratio = 1.7). In contrast, upper body obesity, as assessed by the waist:thigh ratio, was unrelated to risk. These results support the need for future studies assessing the relationship of hormonal and other biological parameters of fat distribution to assist in identifying causal mechanisms for this tumor.

¹ This work was supported by a research grant from the Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Environmental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Executive Plaza North, Room 443, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Received 1/21/92. Accepted 5/ 7/92.

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