INFLUENCE OF BODY-WEIGHT CHANGES ON THE R ATE OF POSTMENOPAUSAL BONE LOSS

Numerous data suggest, at any age, a clear relationship between body w eight and Bone Mineral Density (BMD). On the other hand, the effects o f individual changes in body weight on BMD are still poorly understood . Fourty four normal women of normal weight, who had passed a natural menopause 6 months to 5 years earlier, were followed during a mean per iod of lime of 40 months. They all underwent three BMD measurements by Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry and a clinical examination. There was a sig nificant correlation (p < 0.05) between the changes in weight and the changes in BMD at the vertebral (r = 0.31) and femoral (r = 0.30) leve ls. This association remained significant after adjustment for physica l characteristics, age, years since menopause and initial BMD values. Moreover, the subgroup of women who gained more than one kilogram duri ng the followup had a rate of bone loss which was about twice less tha n that in the rest of the group. This longitudinal study shows that ch anges in body weight are able to influence the rate of postmenopausal bone loss through mechanisms that are still discussed.