Body fat content and serum lipid levels.

The relationship between the percentage of body fat and serum lipids was studied in middle-aged persons (112 men and ninety-two women) whose body fat levels were determined by hydrostatic weighing. Individuals classified as "overfat" exhibited significantly higher total serum cholesterol and total serum triglycerides than those classified as "normal fat " A trend for lower high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels in overfat women and higher low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol in both overfat men and women was observed. Overfat men and women had significantly higher very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that an accumulation of excess body fat may result in unfavorable serum lipid levels.