The Association Between Changes in Body Fat, Body Weight and Serum C-Reactive Protein: A Prospective Study

<p><strong><em>Objective-</strong></em> To investigate the extent to which changes in body fat percentage (BF%) and weight (BW) relate to changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) in women, while statistically controlling for possible confounders, such as age, initial body weight, and menopause status.</p> <p><strong><em>Methods and Results-</strong></em> A cohort of 150 free-living subjects was followed prospectively over a 2½-year period. BF% was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), while BW was determined with a calibrated, electronic scale. There was no significant relationship between changes in BF% and CRP, regardless of age, initial BW, and menopause status. However, changes in BW were predictive of changes in CRP (F=7.75, p=0.006, R2=0.05). The association remained significant after adjusting for differences in baseline age, initial BW, and menopause status (F=9.17, p=0.003, R2=0.08).</p> <p><strong><em>Conclusions-</strong></em> Changes in BF% are not predictive of changes in CRP. However, in agreement with other studies, variations in BW are predictive of changes in CRP. Evidently, changes in CRP are more a function of changes in BW than changes in BF% in middle-aged women. If a causal relationship is assumed, then weight gain over time is likely to increase risk of elevated CRP levels and possibly cardiovascular disease.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Grantor dc:publisher

Brigham Young University - Provo

Author dc:creator

• Bikman, Benjamin Thomas

• C-Reactive Protein
• Body Fat Percentage
• Body Weight
• Exercise Science

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/574

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-1573