The more weight you gain, the higher your cholesterol. It makes sense, but it's never been confirmed in clinical studies. With assistance from the National Center for Health Statistics, Dr. Margo A. Denke, assistant professor of internal medicine in the Center for Human Nutrition, and Dr. Scott M. Grundy, director of the Center, analyzed data from more than 10,000 individuals age 24 to 70. Their conclusion: Escalating body weight, especially before age 45, is an important contributor to high cholesterol levels in both women and men.

Dr. Denke presented their findings in October at the American Heart Association's 63rd Scientific Sessions. They discovered that across the age span, when people gained weight, their serum triglycerides on average increased 80 milligrams per deciliter and their high-density lipoproteins (HDL), "the good cholesterol," decreased 10 mg/dL.

They also found that this effect depends on age. In adults under 45, an increase in body weight correlated with a 39 mg/dL rise in total cholesterol levels in men and a 25 mg/dL increase in women. In older adults, the impact wasn't as striking. For those between the ages 45 and 59, total cholesterol increased 19 milligrams in men and 17 milligrams in women. Between the ages of 60 and 74, cholesterol only rose 7 milligrams in men and 8 milligrams in women.

"This study is clinically important," Dr. Denke said, "because it shows that practicing physicians should encourage patient to lose weight."