In 1987, there was growing evidence that androgens, particularly when elevated, had an unfavorable effect on lipo/apo levels, tending to lower HDL cholesterol (HDLC) and raise LDL cholesterol (LDLC). Previous studies confirmed that although pre-pubertal boys and girls had similar lipo/apo levels, post-pubertal boys had a higher ratio of LDLC/HDLC than girls, in part because of their androgen levels. Such lipo/apo levels had been associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. There was also evidence that obese girls tended to be hyperandrogenic and thus had unfavorable lipo/apo levels and a higher risk of coronary heart disease. This study sought to elucidate whether high androgen levels preceded or were a consequence of obesity.