Thighs - Size Matters (says BMJ)
Discussion
More about living for heifer and heifer...and to save ploughing down to the foot of the article...
The BMJ report shows some consideration was taken in processing the results for 'covariates' such as exercise levels and BMI, the link to thigh circumference remained significant after this. The authors indicate that the study could be extended by looking at the type of tissue mix but the conclusion re-states the usefulness of this research for policymaking.
Strengths and limitations of study
The fact that associations were independent of percentage body fat as well as abdominal obesity suggests that the risk with smaller thighs might be associated with too little muscle mass in the region. It is a limitation that we did not measure tissue composition of the thighs to study this question. Residual confounding by smoking or exercise is a possibility, though the fact that the risk associated with smaller thighs was seen both for smokers and non-smokers and that the increased risk among smokers was independent of confounding from pack years suggests that residual confounding from smoking was not a major problem. For exercise, the possibility remains of residual confounding. Previous studies, however, have shown that the measure of physical activity we used correlates well with maximum oxygen volume capacity and has a strong predictive value in relation to mortality and cardiovascular disease, making the possibility of residual confounding from exercise less likely.
Thresholds were evident in the range of 56-68 cm, depending on end point and sex. For practical purposes we suggest the use a common threshold of 60 cm. It should be noted that we might not have had sufficient power to show significant age differences in associations and thresholds, though we did not find much evidence for such differences.
Finally, lack of power might have prevented us from finding significantly stronger associations between thigh size and mortality for the smokers compared with non-smokers or for the associations in relation to coronary heart disease morbidity, especially among the women.
Conclusions and policy implications
We found that having smaller thighs was associated with development of cardiovascular morbidity and early mortality. The increased risk was independent of abdominal and general obesity and lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure and lipids, related to early cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Additionally, we found that the risk was more highly related to thigh circumference than to waist circumference. In this regard, it is important to note that modifiable risk factors for abdominal obesity, or behaviours to selectively reduce waist circumference, are generally unknown. Thigh muscle mass, on the other hand, can be selectively increased by lower body physical activity, and a clear public health recommendation to change this risk factor can be easily communicated.
Our results suggest that there might be an increased risk of premature death related to thigh size. Furthermore, there seems to be a threshold effect of smaller thighs, but this needs further confirmation before the results can be generalised. On the other hand, the fact that more than half of the men and women aged 35-65 have thigh circumferences below the threshold is worrying. General practitioners could use thigh circumference as an early marker to identify patients at later risk of cardiovascular disease and early mortality.
The BMJ report shows some consideration was taken in processing the results for 'covariates' such as exercise levels and BMI, the link to thigh circumference remained significant after this. The authors indicate that the study could be extended by looking at the type of tissue mix but the conclusion re-states the usefulness of this research for policymaking.
Strengths and limitations of study
The fact that associations were independent of percentage body fat as well as abdominal obesity suggests that the risk with smaller thighs might be associated with too little muscle mass in the region. It is a limitation that we did not measure tissue composition of the thighs to study this question. Residual confounding by smoking or exercise is a possibility, though the fact that the risk associated with smaller thighs was seen both for smokers and non-smokers and that the increased risk among smokers was independent of confounding from pack years suggests that residual confounding from smoking was not a major problem. For exercise, the possibility remains of residual confounding. Previous studies, however, have shown that the measure of physical activity we used correlates well with maximum oxygen volume capacity and has a strong predictive value in relation to mortality and cardiovascular disease, making the possibility of residual confounding from exercise less likely.
Thresholds were evident in the range of 56-68 cm, depending on end point and sex. For practical purposes we suggest the use a common threshold of 60 cm. It should be noted that we might not have had sufficient power to show significant age differences in associations and thresholds, though we did not find much evidence for such differences.
Finally, lack of power might have prevented us from finding significantly stronger associations between thigh size and mortality for the smokers compared with non-smokers or for the associations in relation to coronary heart disease morbidity, especially among the women.
Conclusions and policy implications
We found that having smaller thighs was associated with development of cardiovascular morbidity and early mortality. The increased risk was independent of abdominal and general obesity and lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure and lipids, related to early cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Additionally, we found that the risk was more highly related to thigh circumference than to waist circumference. In this regard, it is important to note that modifiable risk factors for abdominal obesity, or behaviours to selectively reduce waist circumference, are generally unknown. Thigh muscle mass, on the other hand, can be selectively increased by lower body physical activity, and a clear public health recommendation to change this risk factor can be easily communicated.
Our results suggest that there might be an increased risk of premature death related to thigh size. Furthermore, there seems to be a threshold effect of smaller thighs, but this needs further confirmation before the results can be generalised. On the other hand, the fact that more than half of the men and women aged 35-65 have thigh circumferences below the threshold is worrying. General practitioners could use thigh circumference as an early marker to identify patients at later risk of cardiovascular disease and early mortality.
Jonny671 said:
Whats the guy in the beige doing?
Hoping for a shot of her bony ass, I presume. "Why?" is a different question.And, yes, this is a complete load of cobblers, pseudo-science for the stupid (i.e. our politicians). No, you cannot prevent heart disease by sitting on your arse and eating cakes, despite the conclusions of this 'study'. Correlation is meaningless.
Jonny671 said:
AB said:
Jonny671 said:
Whats the guy in the beige doing?
Thats a camera and it's called 'taking a picture' - have a look in "readers cars" - plenty more examples of the product of a camera.HTH
I'm sure hes trying to get an upshot, of um.. Nothing really
FourWheelDrift - Beckhamfly
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