BODY COMPOSITION AND FITNESS LEVEL OF POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN JAPAN

Abstract

158 The specific aim of this study was to determine the body composition and physical fitness level in post menopausal Japanese women whose longevity was going up about 84y/o. At menopausal out-patient clinic, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat areas (VFA, SFA) and bone mineral density (BMD) were examined by CT scanning in 43 subjects (age: 58 ± 7 (39-69) y/o, height: 155 ± 5cm, weight: 51.8 ± 6.1 kg, BMI: 21.7 ± 2.7 (mean ± SD)), and fitness level (treadmill peak Vo2), body compositions (underwater weighing method (UWW)) and BMD (dual energy radiography) were evaluated in 60 (age: 51 ± 8 (32-73) y/o, height: 156 ± 5cm, weight: 50.7 ± 6.9kg, BMI: 20.7 ± 2.7). Fifty-two of them underwent hormone replacement therapy. BMD (98.7 ± 35.1 CaCO3mgEq/cm3) was not correlated with VFA (65 ± 34cm2), SFA (115 ± 53cm2) or V/S (0.57 ± 0.21). After 4 years without habitual exercise, SFA increased and BMD decreased (p < 0.05), but VFA didn't change (n = 27). Peak Vo2 (30.3 ± 4.6ml/kg/min) was correlated to age (r = −0.29, p < 0.05), but not to % body fat (30.0 ± 7.2%). Both BMD (0.86 ± 0.15g/cm2) and absolute peak Vo2 (1525 ± 252ml/min) were correlated to body weight (r = 0.44, 0.50, p < 0.05). BMD, adiposity and fitness level didn't change significantly after 18 months' habitual aerobic-exercise (n = 18). We concluded that Japanese women visited to menopausal clinic in Tokyo were lean in average but their % body fat estimated by UWW were high. Exercise might prevent fat accumulation and maintain BMD.