The purpose of this study was the evaluation of the relationship between the degree of obesity (relative body weight ratio) and values of various components in blood. The degree of lean and obesity was defined as the ratio of actual body weight to standard body weight calculated by the method of katsura. Mean ± standard error and percent frequency of abnormal values of blood components were studied in 880 women with degree of lean and obesity from 80 to 170 % among the women in agricultural villages. The class mean in subjects with relative body weight ratio between 100 and 109 % was used as the standard class value for comparison with these values. The following results were obtained.
1, Red blood count, hemoglobin and hematocrit values were significantly increased as the degree of obesity reached 130-140 %, compared to the standard class value, along with a significant fall of % frequency.
2. Behavior of serum components with reference to the degree of obesity showed a marked component to component variation. The mean level of SGOT, SGPT, γ-GTP, TRIG, CHOL and UA rose along with the increase of the degree of obesity from the lean range via the standard body weight range to the obesity range. ALP, however, was high in the obese and lean ranges, and low in the standard body weight range. BUN showed a tendency in reverse. Electrolyte and creatinine values were not remarkably different between lean and obese persons.
3. Marked changes of the mean levels were seen along with obesity in SGOT, SGPT, γ-GTP, cholesterol and triglyceride. Many of these showed significant increase of the mean in subjects with degree of obesity between 120 and 129 % compared to the standard class value. In subjects with degree of obesity of 140-149 %, frequency of abnormal values were significantly elevated. These results would suggest on an epidemiological basis that detailed examinations of the functional abnormalities of organs and environment in vivo thorugh blood testing is necessary for health control in subjects with degree of obesity of more than 140 % by Katsura method.