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Increased visceral fat and decreased energy expenditure during the menopausal transition

Abstract

Objective:

This study assessed longitudinal changes in body composition, fat distribution and energy balance in perimenopausal women. We hypothesized that total fat and abdominal body fat would increase at menopause due to decreased energy expenditure (EE) and declining estrogen, respectively.

Design:

Observational, longitudinal study with annual measurements for 4 years.

Subjects:

Healthy women (103 Caucasian; 53 African-American), initially premenopausal. During follow-up, lack of menstruation for 1 year and follicle-stimulating hormone >30 mIU ml−1 defined a subject as postmenopausal.

Measurements:

Fat and lean mass (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous abdominal fat (SAT) (computed tomography), dietary intake (4-day food record), serum sex hormones and physical activity (tri-axial accelerometry). Twenty-four hour EE was measured by whole-room calorimeter in a subset of 34 women at baseline and at year 4.

Results:

Body fat and weight increased significantly over time only in those women who became postmenopausal by year 4 (n=51). All women gained SAT over time; however, only those who became postmenopausal had a significant increase in VAT. The postmenopausal group also exhibited a significant decrease in serum estradiol. Physical activity decreased significantly 2 years before menopause and remained low. Dietary energy, protein, carbohydrate and fiber intake were significantly higher 3–4 years before the onset of menopause compared with menopause onset. Twenty-four hour EE and sleeping EE decreased significantly with age; however, the decrease in sleeping EE was 1.5-fold greater in women who became postmenopausal compared with premenopausal controls (−7.9 vs −5.3%). Fat oxidation decreased by 32% in women who became postmenopausal (P<0.05), but did not change in those who remained premenopausal.

Conclusion:

Middle-aged women gained SAT with age, whereas menopause per se was associated with an increase in total body fat and VAT. Menopause onset is associated with decreased EE and fat oxidation that can predispose to obesity if lifestyle changes are not made.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the study participants and their families for their support during this study. We also thank the staff at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center clinic and the inpatient unit for assistance with all aspects of the study, Mr Tuong Nguyen, BSE, for expert maintenance of the metabolic chambers and the case managers who helped retain so many participants in the study. This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (DK 2 R01 DK050736). All authors do not have conflicts of interest, including specific financial interests and relationships and affiliations relevant to the subject of this work.

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Correspondence to S R Smith.

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Lovejoy, J., Champagne, C., de Jonge, L. et al. Increased visceral fat and decreased energy expenditure during the menopausal transition. Int J Obes 32, 949–958 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.25

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