Menopause, estrogens, progestins, or their combination on body weight and anthropometric measures

To evaluate modification in body weight and anthropometric indexes in women at the time of menopause.

Prospective longitudinal study.

Menopause Center at the University Hospital of Modena.

Women in perimenopause (n = 87), ovariectomized (n = 60), and in postmenopause (n = 182) without and with treatment.

Data were retrieved from the electronic database of the Menopause Center.

Modification of weight, body mass index (BMI), waist, hip, and waist-to-hip ratio in 12 months.

Body weight increased in perimenopausal (0.6 +/- 0.1 kg) women, did not vary in postmenopausal (0.2 +/- 0.1 kg) women, and decreased in ovariectomized (-0.5 +/- 0.3 kg) women. Waist increased significantly in perimenopausal (2.3 +/- 0.4 cm) and in postmenopausal (2.0 +/- 0.4 cm) women. In comparison to no treatment, progestin administration (n = 29) decreased body weight (-0.2 +/- 0.5 kg) and hip (-1.1 +/- 0.9 cm) in perimenopausal women, estrogen (E) administration (n = 38) increased body weight (0.8 +/- 0.3 kg) in ovariectomized women, whereas E plus progestin administration (n = 89) did not induce any modification in postmenopausal women.

Present preliminary data indicate that body weight increases in perimenopausal women, decreases in ovariectomized women, and does not increase significantly in naturally postmenopausal women. Estrogens and progestins influence body weight differently, increasing and decreasing it, respectively.