High waist circumference - A potential risk factor for premature metabolic syndrome in women irrespective of menopausal status

Abstract

Menopausal transition is associated with increasing abdominal obesity and the emergence of many features of the metabolic syndrome. The accumulation of fat in a central distribution (intra abdominal) has emerged as a cardiovascular risk factor independent of overall obesity. The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of abdominal obesity and the components of metabolic syndrome in the north Indian rural and urban; pre and post menopausal women in the age range of 25-60 years. In a cross sectional study comprising of 200 subjects selected from the north Indian rural and urban population equally, 100 of the subjects were premenopausal in the age range of 25-40 years and an equal number of subjects were post menopausal in the age range of 45-60 years. Participants underwent demographic, anthropometric and biochemical measurements. The adult treatment panel 3 (ATP3) criteria was used to classify subjects as having metabolic syndrome. Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 15; SPSS, Chicago, IL). Numerical variables were expressed as means ± SD. 71% of post-menopausal subjects were having higher waist circumference (>88 cm), suggestive of abdominal obesity as compared to 56% of pre-menopausal counterparts. BMI (Body mass index) was in the normal range in both the study subjects. Higher numbers of post-menopausal (41% rural and 43% urban) subjects were having components of metabolic syndrome as compared to (20% rural and 27% urban) pre-menopausal subjects. The total prevalence of metabolic syndrome was also higher in post-menopausal subjects. Abdominal obesity correlates with metabolic risk factors independent of age or menopausal status Menopausal transition by increasing abdominal obesity heightens the risk of metabolic syndrome. Early interventions in the form of life style and dietary changes can lower the risk of metabolic syndrome both in pre and post menopausal subjects.

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