EFFECTS OF THE MENOPAUSE TRANSITION ON BODY FATNESS AND BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION

Objective: The menopause transition increases cardiovascular and metab olic disease risk, partly because of the adverse effects of estrogen d eficiency on the plasma lipid-lipoprotein profile and cardiovascular f unction. This increased cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk may also be partially mediated by increased body fat, increased intraabdom inal adipose tissue accumulation, or both. The objective of this mini- review is to summarize studies that have investigated the relationship s among the menopause transition, body fatness, and body fat distribut ion. Research Methods and Procedures: A review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies on menopause that examined body fatness and body fat distribution. Results: Cross-sectional reports show that the menop ause transition is related to modest increases in body mass index or t otal fatness, although not all studies found significant effects. Incr eased central adiposity appears to be related to menopause, independen t of advancing age, but these results are methodology dependent. An in dependent effect of menopause on central body fatness was noted by the use of techniques such as DEXA or computed tomography, whereas studie s using circumference measures showed discrepant results. Longitudinal studies showed that the menopause transition accelerated the increase in central adiposity, although no studies quantified changes in intra -abdominal fat by imaging techniques. Discussion: Thus, additional lon gitudinal studies using more accurate measures of adiposity are needed to critically examine the effects of the menopause transition on tota l and central body fatness. Collectively, previous studies suggest tha t menopause is related to modest increase in total fatness and acceler ated accumulation of central body fat that exceeds changes normally at tributed to the aging process. These changes may increase the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease in aging women.