Abstract
BackgroundThe menopause is associated with a tendency to gain weight. Several alterations in fat deposits occur, leading to changes in the distribution of body fat. There are strong indications that, in middle age, obesity is associated with increased mortality. This study set out to determine the factors associated with the prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity in postmenopausal women in a population-based study in Brazil.MethodsThe sample included 456 women, aged 45–69 years, residing in the urban area of Maringa, Parana. Systematic sampling, with a probability proportional to the size of the census sector, was performed. Behavioral, economic, and sociodemographic data were collected, and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were determined.ResultsAccording to BMI criteria (≥25.0 kg/m2), 72.6% of the women were overweight, and according to WC (≥88 cm), 63.6% had abdominal obesity. Based on logistic regression analysis, the factors that were most closely associated with overweight were: having three or more children (odds ratio (OR): 1.78; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–3.00); and not taking hormone replacement therapy (OR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.06–2.63). The prevalence of abdominal obesity was positively associated with greater parity (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.05–1.72) and age older than 65 years (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.03–2.19).ConclusionsThis study found that the prevalences of overweight and abdominal obesity were higher for postmenopausal women who had three or more children. Age over 65 years was also a risk factor for abdominal obesity and no use of hormonal replacement therapy was a risk factor for overweight.
Highlights
The menopause is associated with a tendency to gain weight
The univariate analysis initially demonstrated a significant association between overweight and years of schooling, occupation, parity, and hormonal therapy
The use of hormone therapy was associated with a lower prevalence of overweight (p = 0.04) (Table 1)
Summary
The menopause is associated with a tendency to gain weight. Several alterations in fat deposits occur, leading to changes in the distribution of body fat. This study set out to determine the factors associated with the prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity in postmenopausal women in a population-based study in Brazil. The arrival of the menopause in middle age is associated with a tendency to gain weight [2,3]. Several alterations in fat deposits occur with the advent of the menopause, leading to a change in the distribution of body fat. Several studies have been conducted in an attempt to characterize the factors associated with obesity in the menopause [9,10,11,12]; as far as we are aware, there are few published population-based studies which have evaluated the factors associated with overweight and abdominal obesity in postmenopausal women
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