Excess weight and abdominal obesity in postmenopausal Brazilian women: a population-based study

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.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and its Related Risk Factors in the City of Oran, Algeria: the ISOR Study

“…In addition, the postmenopausal weight gain increases insulin resistance and central obesity. 30 In our study, 32.5% of women had more than four pregnancies and 26.6% were menopaused.…”

Índice de Massa Corporal e fatores associados em mulheres climatéricas

“…Debido a los cambios que sufre el organismo femenino durante ese periodo, la asociación entre la obesidad y el climaterio ha sido objeto de estudio de varios autores 15,16 , siendo que el exceso de peso es un serio problema de salud, pues representa un importante factor de riesgo para la aparición de las enfermedades cardiovasculares, hipertensión arterial sistémica, problemas respiratorios, diabetes mellitus, dislipidemias y neoplasias, impactando significativamente en la mortalidad de los individuos afectados 17,18, y aumenta significativamente en las mujeres después de llegar a los 40 años de edad; alcanzando 65% de ellas entre 40 y 59 años y 73,8% en mujeres con más de 60 años de edad 54 .…”

“…Datos antropométricos como la circunferencia abdominal, la relación cintura y cadera y el IMC fueran evaluados. La medición de la estatura ocurrió con el auxilio del antropómetro SECA 206 en una pared con noventa grados en relación al suelo y sin zócalos con la mujer en la debida posición para la evaluación de este dato; del peso (kg) utilizando una balanza portátil SECA OMEGA 870 digital y del IMC por el producto de la división del peso corporal por la altura al cuadrado (P/E2) ocurriendo la clasificación de las investigadas en eutróficas (18,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)9), sobrepeso (25,0-29,9) y obesidad (30,0-arriba) 12 .…”

Untitled

“…Studies show that menopause is associated with weight gain and especially with abdominal obesity (***The North American Menopause Society, 2012; Dubnov-Raz, Pines and Berry, 2007; Gravena et al, 2013). Yet, as in the UK (***The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Dissemination Centre, 2015) in the studied sample more men than women are overweight and the interest for the control of BW is higher in the case of women.…”