The effects of physical exercise on body fat distribution and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

The present cross-sectional study investigated the effects of physical exercise on body fat distribution and bone mineral density (BMD).

Subjects were 57 postmenopausal women (mean age, 60.5+/-6.4 years) who had exercised regularly for at least 2 years. Controls were 130 age-matched sedentary women. Age, years since menopause (YSM), height, weight, and body mass index (BMI, wt./ht.(2)) were recorded. Total fat mass, percentage of body fat, trunk fat mass, leg fat mass, the ratio of trunk fat mass to leg fat mass (trunk-leg fat ratio), total body lean mass, percentage of body lean, and lumbar spine BMD (L2-L4) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Baseline characteristics and leg fat mass did not differ between the two groups. Total fat mass, percentage of body fat, trunk fat mass, and trunk-leg fat ratio were lower (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively), while total body lean mass, percentage of body lean mass, and lumbar spine BMD were higher in exercising women (P<0.05, P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Performing physical exercise was inversely correlated with trunk-leg fat ratio (standardized regression coefficient=-0.178, P<0.01), but positively correlated with BMD (0. 203, P<0.01) irrespective of age, height, YSM, and total fat mass.

Physical exercise has beneficial effects on body fat distribution and BMD in postmenopausal women. Reduction of upper body fat distribution with physical exercise may be more attributable to the decrease in trunk fat mass.