title: [Physical activity and body composition in menopausal women].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the relationship between physical activity and body composition in menopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 62 menopausal women aged 50 years or more (61.2±7.6). The practice of physical activity was assessed with an accelerometer and is reported as minutes per week of low physical activity and moderate plus vigorous physical activity, and total physical activity in counts. Lean mass and total fat mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and are reported as percentages. The relation between body composition variables and physical activity was evaluated by Spearman and Pearson correlation. Comparisons between groups were performed using the independent t test and Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age group 59 years or older had higher mean values of total physical activity in counts (1,307.081 versus 2,843.840) and of minutes per week of moderate-vigorous physical activity (273 versus 156 minutes). Women who completed 150 minutes or more of moderate-vigorous physical activity had significantly lower total fat mass (43.8 versus 47.2 kg), higher lean mass (53.8 versus 49.6 kg) and lower BMI (27.7 versus 30.5 kg/m²) when compared to those with less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Only time spent in moderate activities showed a significant negative correlation with the percentage of total fat (r=-0.26, p<0.05), whereas total physical activity in counts correlated with the percentage of lean body mass (r=0,30), percentage of total fat (r=-0.32), trunk fat (r=-0.29), and BMI (r=-0.32); all correlations were statistically significant at p<0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  menopausal women aged 50 years or more who spent more minutes in moderate and vigorous activity and higher total physical activity counts showed lower fat mass and higher lean mass.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Educação física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, UNESP, Presidente Prudente (SP), Brasil.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buonani
authors.forename: Clara Suemi da Costa
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Tiego Aparecido
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Diego Giulliano Destro
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Christofaro
authors.forename: Henrique Luiz
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Fabrício Eduardo
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Ismael Forte
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Freitas Júnior
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity