The Role of Physical Activity on Abdominal Fat Patterning in Pre and Post-Menopausal Women

Abstract

Changes in the hormonal milieu with menopause are associated with increases in both total body fat and abdominal fat storage (AFS), both of which are related to an adverse metabolic profile and increased cardiovascular disease risk. Physical activity (PA) is a common intervention to ameliorate adipose fat accumulation during all life-stages. PURPOSE:To examine differences in the protective effect of physical activity on total adiposity and fat patterning in pre and post-menopausal women. METHODS: A total of 1018 women (pre-menopausal 425; post-menopausal 593) participated in the study. Each patient completed anthropometric measurements and a physical activity survey using the HealthSnap platform, which encompasses a streamlined health evaluation with lifestyle recommendations. Patients were stratified by age to predict menopausal status (pre-menopausal <35 yrs; post-menopausal >45 yrs). BMI was computed as kg/m2 and AFS was determined using a waist-to-hip ratio above 0.85. PA was defined as MET-minutes equivalent to >75 minutes of vigorous activity, or >150 minutes of moderate activity, per week. RESULTS: As expected, in both groups of pre and post-menopausal women, a significant association was observed between PA and BMI (RR=1.8, CI: 1.24-2.70 and RR = 2.18, CI: 1.67-2.80; p<0.001, respectively). In contrast, PA was only associated with AFS patterning in post-menopausal (RR=1.45, CI: 1.24-1.70; p<0.001) but not pre-menopausal women (RR= 1.034, CI: 0.83-1.30; p=0.74). CONCLUSIONS: PA is protective against BMI in both pre and post-menopausal women. However, PA appears to be protective against the development of AFS in post-menopausal women, but not pre-menopausal women. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a dichotomous relationship between PA and an AFS patterns between two life stages in women. These findings suggest that exercise is an effective therapeutic intervention to prevent or reduce abdominal fat deposition and its associated health consequences. These adverse health risks associated with endocrine changes in post-menopausal women may be ameliorated by meeting weekly PA recommendations.