We have performed plasma lipid profiling using liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry on a population cohort of more than 1000 individuals. From 10 uL of plasma we were able to acquire comparative measures of 312 lipids across 23 lipid classes and subclasses including sphingolipids, phospholipids glycerolipids and cholesterol esters, in 20 minutes. Using linear and logistic regression we identified statistically significant associations of lipid classes, subclasses and individual lipid species with anthropometric and physiological measures. In addition to the expected associations of cholesterol ester and triacylglycerol with age, sex and body mass index, ceramide was significantly higher in males and was independently associated with age and body mass index. Associations were also observed for sphingomyelin with age but this lipid subclass was lower in males. Lysophospholipids were associated with age and higher in males, but showed a strong negative association with body mass index. Many of these lipids have previously been associated with chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and may mediate the interactions of age, sex and obesity with disease risk.