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Difference in segmental lean and fat mass components between pre- and postmenopausal women
Tsutomu Douchi1, Yukie Yonehara, Yukie Kawamura
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. tomy@m3.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
|April 13, 2007
Summary
Aging, not menopause, increases trunk fat in women. Leg fat mass remains unchanged with age. This suggests aging is the primary driver of upper body fat distribution changes in postmenopausal women.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Menopause is associated with changes in body composition, particularly fat distribution.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for women's health and metabolic disease prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare segmental body composition (fat and lean mass) between premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
- To determine the influence of aging versus menopause on fat distribution.
Main Methods:
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure fat mass percentages in arms, trunk, and legs.
- Data from 413 premenopausal and 229 postmenopausal women were analyzed.
- Trunk-to-leg fat mass ratio was calculated.
Main Results:
- Postmenopausal women had significantly higher trunk fat percentage and trunk-leg fat mass ratio.
- Leg fat percentage did not differ between groups and did not correlate with age.
- Trunk fat and trunk-leg ratio correlated positively with age in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Increased trunk fat percentage in postmenopausal women is primarily due to aging, not menopause itself.
- Leg fat mass is not affected by aging.
- Aging appears to be the main factor driving upper body fat redistribution in postmenopausal women.
