Association between anthropometric indicators of body fat and metabolic risk markers in post-menopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
to evaluate anthropometric indicators of body fat and their association with metabolic risk markers in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study with 80 Brazilian women (40-70 years) was carried out. Body mass index (BMI = weight/height(2)), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were obtained for anthropometric evaluation. Trunk fat mass (TFM) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The following metabolic variables were evaluated: total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL, triglycerides (TG), as well as glycemia and insulin to determine insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).


RESULTS
Overweight and obesity were observed in 81% of the women. Values of WC >88 cm were observed in 68.5% of the women. On average, TC, LDL and TG levels were above normal levels in 60, 50 and 42.5% of the women, respectively; and HDL was normal in 82.5%. IR was observed in 37.5% of the women. Positive correlations were found between anthropometric indicators and TFM (P < 0.05). WC was most correlated with TFM (r = 0.92), followed by BMI (r = 0.88) and by WHR (r = 0.48; P < 0.05). All anthropometric indicators and TFM showed significant negative correlations with HDL and significant positive correlations with HOMA-IR (P < 0.05). Only WHR was significantly associated with dysglycemia (R(2) = 12%), hypertriglyceridemia (R(2) = 17%) and decreased HDL (R(2) = 27%). WC was significantly associated with HOMA-IR (R(2) = 34%).


CONCLUSIONS
WC and WHR are anthropometric measures that showed strong correlation with TFM and with metabolic risk markers in postmenopausal women.
Orsatti
Fabio Lera
FL
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP, Sao Paulo State University, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Nahas
Eliana Aguiar Petri
EA
Nahas-Neto
Jorge
J
Maesta
Nailza
N
Orsatti
Claudio Lera
CL
Vespoli
Heloisa De Luca
Hde L
Traiman
Paulo
P
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids