Influence of age, menopause status, body mass index and physical activity on body composition and body fat distribution in midlife women

摘要

Objective:To investigate the influence of age,menopause status,body mass index(BMI) and physical activity on body composition and body fat distribution in Chinese midlife women. Methods:The healthy women who underwent anniversary health checkup in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were recruited cross-sectionally.The level of physical activity was determined via International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short in Chinese Version.The body composition and fat distribution were measured by dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry. Results:A total of 162 women with average age 52 years(40-62 years) were recruited.Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to test the relationship between age,menopause status,BMI and physical activity and parameters of body composition and body fat distribution.The total fat tissue percentage was positively associated with BMI(standardized partial regression coefficient;b = 0.70),menopause status(b = 0.19.grading variables 1,2,3 were assigned to represent for reproductive group,menopausal transition group and postmenopausal group,respectively),and negatively associated with physical activity energy expenditure (b=—0.17) with model determination coefficient 0.55.Total body fat-free-tissue mass was positively associated with BMI(b = 0.61),negatively associated with menopause status(b=—0.14) with model determination coefficient 0.39.The ratio of trunk fat-tissue mass/total body fat-tissue mass(Tr/T) was positively associated with BMI(b=0.32) and menopause status(b = 0.30) with model determination coefficient 0.20.After adjusted the effects of BMI,menopause status and physical activity,age was not significantly related with total fat tissue percentage,body fat-free-tissue mass,nor ratio of(Tr/T). Conclusion:Menopause impacts body composition and body fat distribution independently.During the process of female reproductive aging,body fat tissue mass and centrally distributed fat tissue mass increase,while body fatfree -tissue mass decreases.Age itself has no significant relation with body composition and body fat distribution.It is recommended that midlife women should engage in more physical activity and keep proper body weight to reduce the negative effect of menopause on body fat tissue.