Adverse Changes in Body Composition During the Menopausal Transition and Relation to Cardiovascular Risk: A Contemporary Review

Abstract

The menopausal transition period in aging women is strongly associated with weight gain. Evidence shows that weight changes during menopause increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women. However, the potential mechanisms that cause weight gain and adverse changes to body composition specifically during the menopausal transition period remain to be elucidated. In this contemporary review, we examined recent evidence for adverse changes in body composition at midlife during the menopausal transition and the link to increased CVD risk and described factors that may contribute to these changes, including normal chronological aging, hormonal factors (decreased estrogen, etc.), behavioral factors (changes in diet, physical activity), or other emerging factors ( e.g. , sleep). This review focused on identifying factors that make the menopausal transition period a critical window for prevention of CVD. Future study is needed to decipher the extent to which hormonal changes, age-related factors, and behavioral factors interact with and contribute to increased CVD risk in women undergoing menopause. Understanding the causes of weight gain during the menopausal transition may help to inform strategies to mitigate adverse CVD outcomes for women transitioning through menopause.

Global psychological assessment with the evaluation of life and sleep quality and sexual and cognitive function in a large number of patients with acromegaly: a cross-sectional study

“…Concomitant cardiovascular and metabolic complications may further disrupt sexual function in women and induce a decrease of arousability, orgasm and satisfaction in acromegaly (60). On the other hand, the estrogens fall spontaneously occurring with the onset of menopause leading to a state of physiologic hypogonadism, is known to promote a cardiometabolic transition leading to obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, commonly seen also in women with acromegaly (96)(97)(98). In the current study, elderly patients reported lower FSFI total and all domain scores, and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction was higher in patients with long disease duration and/or older than 64 years as compared to younger patients.…”

The Prevalence of Diabetes among Hypertensive Polish in Relation to Sex-Difference in Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Body Fat Percentage and Age

“…Aging is strongly associated with weight gain related to the accumulation of body fat depot during a lifetime. The adverse changes in body composition accelerate in women during the menopausal transition [ 4 ]. The age-associated decline in physical capacity related among others to the decrease in especially appendicular skeletal muscle mass [ 5 ].…”

Impact of Paraben Exposure on Adiposity-Related Measures: An Updated Literature Review of Population-Based Studies

“…In another study, women in one group (the metabolic group) were approximately three years older than the non-metabolic group, but the participants’ menopausal status was not examined [ 73 ]. The menopausal transition period in aging women is strongly associated with weight gain [ 74 ].…”