BODY-WEIGHT, FAT DISTRIBUTION AND THE MENOPAUSAL STATUS IN WOMEN

Since sex hormones are involved in the regulation of body composition and adipose tissue metabolism, in this study we investigated whether m enopause may alter body weight and fat distribution in women. Data wer e obtained from the Virgilio-Menopause-Health Study, which is a longit udinal epidemiological project aimed at investigating the relationship between menopause and related plasma hormonal concentrations, body we ight, fat distribution and health. Only data from the first cross-sect ional examination are presented. Out of the 952 women living in the to wn of Virgilio, Mantua (Italy) and born between January 1st, 1932 and December 31st, 1946, 596 (62.6%) participated in the study. Since inco mplete data were present in 19 women, 577 was the final sample size av ailable for statistical analysis. The protocol included a collection o f blood for hormones and biochemistry, a full clinical history with so cioeconomic and personal information, drug use, smoking, dietary and p hysical activity habits, and several anthropometric measurements. Acco rding to the clinical and hormonal status, 160 women were classified a s pre-menopausal, 124 as peri-menopausal and 293 as post-menopausal. A fter adjusting for age, we found that body mass index (BMI) was signif icantly higher in peri-menopausal than in pre-menopausal women and rem ained slightly, but again significantly, higher in post-menopausal wom en. Although waist-to-hip and waist-to-thigh ratios increased signific antly and progressively from pre- to post-menopause, any difference wa s not significant after adjusting for age. Diet, physical activity and smoking habits did not explain the difference in BMI values. No diffe rence was found in the use of estro-progestagen compounds between the groups. In the post-menopausal women, there were no differences in eit her anthropometric or clinical variables between those who underwent b ilateral ovariectomy and those who had natural menopause. Gonadotropin levels progressively increased, and estradiol decreased, from pre- to post-menopause, without any significant difference in testosterone an d sex hormone-binding globulin. In multiple regression models, body ma ss index was positively correlated with the waist-to-hip ratio, age an d energy intake, and negatively correlated with sex-hormone binding gl obulin and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In turn, the waist-to-h ip ratio was positively correlated with body mass index and age, and n egatively with sex-hormone binding globulin. These data suggest that t he menopausal status can slightly but significantly increase body weig ht, without affecting body fat distribution. Moreover, changes in the fat distribution seem to depend on body mass index and age, but not on menopause or related hormonal patterns.