Effects of the Menopause Transition on Body Fatness and Body Fat Distribution

Abstract

Objective: The menopause transition increases cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk, partly because of the adverse effects of estrogen deficiency on the plasma lipid‐lipoprotein profile and cardiovascular function. This increased cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk may also be partially mediated by increased body fat, increased intraabdominal adipose tissue accumulation, or both. The objective of this mini‐review is to summarize studies that have investigated the relationships among the menopause transition, body fatness, and body fat distribution. Research Methods and Procedures: A review of cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies on menopause that examined body fatness and body fat distribution. Results: Cross‐sectional reports show that the menopause transition is related to modest increases in body mass index or total fatness, although not all studies found significant effects. Increased central adiposity appears to be related to menopause, independent of advancing age, but these results are methodology dependent. An independent effect of menopause on central body fatness was noted by the use of techniques such as DEXA or computed tomography, whereas studies using circumference measures showed discrepant results. Longitudinal studies showed that the menopause transition accelerated the increase in central adiposity, although no studies quantified changes in intra‐abdominal fat by imaging techniques. Discussion: Thus, additional longitudinal studies using more accurate measures of adiposity are needed to critically examine the effects of the menopause transition on total and central body fatness. Collectively, previous studies suggest that menopause is related to modest increase in total fatness and accelerated accumulation of central body fat that exceeds changes normally attributed to the aging process. These changes may increase the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease in aging women.