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The Contribution of Menopause to Changes in Body‐Fat Distribution
Author(s) -
Ijuin Hirofumi,
Douchi Tsutomu,
Oki Toshimichi,
Maruta Kuninori,
Nagata Yukihiro
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.1999.tb01178.x
Subject(s) - trunk , medicine , menopause , body mass index , univariate analysis , obesity , postmenopausal women , waist to height ratio , physiology , gynecology , endocrinology , multivariate analysis , waist , biology , ecology
Objective: To investigate whether menopause contributes to changes in body‐fat distribution, irrespective of aging or obesity. Methods: The subjects were 545 premenopausal (aged 16–55 years; mean + standard deviation, 37.7 + 9.1 years) and 219 postmenopausal (aged 45–65 years, 58.0 + 5.0 years) women. Baseline characteristics included age, body mass index (BMI), and menopausal status (premenopause or postmenopause). The ratio of trunk fat to leg fat (trunk‐leg ratio) was estimated by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. The trunk‐leg ratio and baseline characteristics were compared between the 2 groups. In all subjects ( n = 764), possible correlations between the trunk‐leg ratio and the baseline characteristics were determined using univariate and multivariate analysis. In postmenopausal women, the relationsip of the trunk‐leg ratio to YSM or age after adjusting for BMI was investigated. Results: The trunk‐leg ratio and BMI were significantly higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. In all subjects, age and BMI were positively correlated with the trunk‐leg ratio (r = 0.445 and 0.587, respectively, p < 0.0001). Menopause was also positively correlated with the trunk‐leg ratio on univariate regression analysis (standardized regression coefficient = 0.369, p < 0.0001). On multiple regression analysis, age, BMI, and menopause were independently correlated with the trunk‐leg ratio (p < 0.05). In postmenopausal women, age and YSM were positively correlated with the trunk‐leg ratio, independent of the BMI (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Menopause contributes to a change in body‐fat distribution, irrespective of aging or obesity.