title: Effect of a weight loss intervention on anthropometric measures and metabolic risk factors in pre- versus postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study examines changes in body weight, fat mass, metabolic and hormonal parameters in overweight and obese pre- and postmenopausal women who participated in a weight loss intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two subjects were included in the analysis of this single arm study (premenopausal: 22 women, age 43.7 +/- 6.4 years, BMI 31.0 +/- 2.4 kg/m2; postmenopausal: 50 women, age 58.2 +/- 5.1 years, BMI 32.9 +/- 3.7 kg/m2). Weight reduction was achieved by the use of a meal replacement and fat-reduced diet. In addition, from week 6 to 24 participants attended a guided exercise program. Body composition was analyzed with the Bod Pod(R). Blood pressures were taken at every visit and blood was collected at baseline and closeout of the study to evaluate lipids, insulin, cortisol and leptin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, glucose, leptin and cortisol were higher in the postmenopausal women at baseline. Both groups achieved a substantial and comparable weight loss (pre- vs. postmenopausal: 6.7 +/- 4.9 vs 6.7 +/- 4.4 kg; n.s.). However, in contrast to premenopausal women, weight loss in postmenopausal women was exclusively due to a reduction of fat mass (-5.3 +/- 5.1 vs -6.6 +/- 4.1 kg; p < 0.01). In premenopausal women 21% of weight loss was attributed to a reduction in lean body mass. Blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and glucose improved significantly only in postmenopausal women whereas total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were lowered significantly in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both groups showed comparable weight loss and in postmenopausal women weight loss was associated with a pronounced improvement in metabolic risk factors thereby reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Prevention and Sports Medicine, Centre for Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Freiburg Germany. peter.deibert@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deibert
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Mara Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Vitolins
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Landmann
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Zahradnik
authors.forename: Aloys
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol