Abstract: Ob ective To explore the a ssociation between waist circum ference(WC),waist to hipratio(W HR)and the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS)based on the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS)in a hospital based study of men with surgically treamtent benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)aged≥55 years.Methods Between July 2005 and June 2007,LUT S data were collected from 280 male residents with BPH aged 55-85 years in Jinzhou using the IPSS.The waist and hip circum ference of the subjects were measured.The role of putative risk factors were estmiated with conditional multiplelo gistic regression model.The association between WC,WHR and the presence of moderate to severe LUTS was a ssessed.Results The severity of LUTS,including the subca tegories of obstructive and irritative symptoms,increased closely with the age.After multivariable adjustment,subjects with WC>85 cm and WHR≥0.9 were at in creased risk of mode rate to severe LUT S and irritative symptoms.OR of LUTS and OR of irritative symptoms were 2807(95% CI=2.506-15.587)and 1.105(95% CI=1.023-2.892)respectively among men with WC>85 cm.WHR was positively associated with the risk of LUTS(OR=3.635,95% CI=3.432-10.624)and risk of irritative symptoms(OR=1.195,95% CI=1.135-3.286).Conclusion The results suggested that obesity,especially central obesity,is an important risk factor for LUTS.LUTS appears to be exacerbated by life style factors.