Purpose: Investigation of the etiological relationship between body fat and uterine leiomyomas.
Settings: This was a case-control study. Percent body fat was measured bioelectrically with a body fat analyzer.
Subjects: In Sapporo City, Japan, 100 women with uterine leiomyomas (pathologically diagnosed) and 200 controls who were confirmed to have no uterine leiomyomas by clinical examination.
Results: Among the four types classified by BMI (over/under 24.0) and percent body fat (over/under 30%), the occult obesity type (BMI<24.0 and percent body fat*30%) had the highest risk.
There were no patients of muscular type (BMI*24.0 and percent body fat <30%). Women with more than 0.80 of waist-to-hip ratio were also at significantly higher risk. Conclusions: Occult obesity and upper body fat distribution may lead to the development of uterine leiomyomas. J Epidemiol, 1998 ; 8 : 176-180.