<bold>Purpose.</bold> To determine whether risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (anthropometry, blood pressure, blood lipid profile) differ between men classified into the three relative body fat %BF categories (%BF ≤ 19: healthy; %BF>19 and %BF<30: overweight, and %BF ≥ 30: obesity).
<bold>Basic procedures.</bold> A total of 112 volunteers from Brasília, Brazil, were submitted to the measurement of body weight, height and waist, abdominal and hip circumference. The body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. %BF and body fat topography (arm, leg and trunk %BF) were estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Blood pressure was measured by auscultation and blood variables were determined by an enzymatic method. Univariate analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance and the Scheffé post hoc test were used for statistical analysis (p<0.05).
<bold>Main findings.</bold> The three %BF groups differed significantly in terms of body weight and body circumference measures, with higher mean values being observed the higher the %BF. Fasting glycemia and high-density lipoprotein did not differ between groups, indicating the interference of other factors. BMI, WHR, blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, atherogenic index and atherogenic cholesterol were statistically similar in the overweight and obese groups and differed significantly from the healthy group.
<bold>Conclusions.</bold> Abdominal, waist, hip circumference and body fat topography (arm, leg and trunk %BF) differ between the three %BF groups. None of the blood variables differed significantly between the overweight and obese groups. The cutoff %BF>19 (measured by DXA) seems to be a good parameter to indicate cardiovascular risk factors in men.