Larger hip circumference independently predicts health and longevity in a Swedish female cohort

Objective: The waist circumference is widely viewed as a simple but effecti ve measure for assessing obesity-related health risks, whereas measurement of the hip circumference is not currently prioritized. This study examines health risks associated specifically with hip circumference in a cohort of Swedish women, to determine whether information may be lost by excluding th e hip circumference from health surveys. Research Methods and Procedures: The subjects described in this report cons titute a population-based sample of 38- to 60-year-old women who underwent anthropometric examinations in 1968. The 24-year incidence rates have been ascertained for myocardial infarction, combined cardiovascular diseases, an d diabetes. All-cause, cardiovascular, and myocardial infarction mortality also were evaluated. Results: Hip circumference was a significant independent inverse risk estim ator for all endpoints studied. Using Cox regression with adjustment for ag e, smoking, body mass index, and waist circumference, the remaining variabi lity associated with larger hips was associated with significantly fewer ad verse health outcomes. The hip circumference became statistically informati ve after body mass index adjustment. The strongest protective associations were observed for cardiovascular disease and diabetes endpoints, although s ignificant trends were also seen for total mortality. Considering hip and w aist simultaneously, the strength of the inverse association for large hips generally exceeded the positive association for waist. Discussion: Recent interest in the waist circumference as an effective scre ening tool has taken the focus off of the hip circumference. The present re sults suggest that collection of hip measurements should not be discontinue d in assessment of obesity-related risk status and health promotion.