Influence of Overweight and Obesity on Bone Mineral Density in Egyptian Premenopausal Women

Abstract

Background and objective: Can overweight and obesity exert a detrimental or a protective effect on bone density in premenopausal women? We studied the correlation between obesity and bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal women in Egypt. Patients and methods: a Case-control study included 50 overweight and obese premenopausal women compared to 50 normal weight women of matched age. Clinical history, examination, laboratory tests and DEXA scan were done. Results: T–score and Z-score at the forearm, hip, and lumbar vertebrae were significantly lower in the case group than the control group. In all participants, we found a significant negative correlation between body mass index (BMI) with Z-score ( forearm), BMI and bodyweight with Z-score (hip) and BMI, waist circumference (WC) and bodyweight with Z-score (lumbar vertebrae). We found a significant negative correlation between waist/ hip ratio (WHR) and T-score (hip) and between BMI, waist/hip ratio and bodyweight with T-score (lumbar vertebrae). In the overweight and obese participants, BMI was inversely correlated with Z-score (forearm, hip, and lumbar vertebrae) as well as waist circumference with Z-score (lumbar vertebrae). With post-hoc analysis, T-score at the lumbar vertebrae was significantly lower in the obese group. With adjustment of the age, (age and WC) and (age and WHR), we found a significant negative association in the obese group versus the lean group with Z-score (forearm, hip and lumbar vertebrae). Conclusion: Overweight and obese Egyptian premenopausal women were more vulnerable to lower bone density.