The effects of body mass index on age at menopause

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:We examined which of body mass index (BMI, kg=m 2 ), serum cholesterol (mg=dl), or systolic blood pressure (SBP, mm Hg) affected age at natural menopause. DESIGN: A population-based follow-up program. METHODS: We determined the age at natural menopause in 1136 women followed biennially since their first examination in 1958 -1959 through the 16th examination in 1988 -1989. Four-hundred and ninety-three naturally menopausal women were classified into three groups by BMI, serum cholesterol and SBP measurement levels at age 40 or 41 y: the upper 25%, middle 50%, and lower 25%. We then studied whether there was a difference in age at menopause among the three groups thus classified. The 1136 natural menopausal women were also classified as early (n ¼ 454; 45 -49 y at menopause (48.3 AE 1.2 y)) or late (n ¼ 682; ! 50 y at menopause (52.3 AE 1.6 y)) menopausal and compared for premenopausal trends in BMI, serum cholesterol and SBP in the early and late menopausal women by means of a longitudinal data analysis model. RESULTS: When women were classified into the three groups based on a BMI that was measured at 40 or 41 y, age at menopause in the upper 25% (50.4 AE 2.8 y) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in the lower 25% (49.7 AE 2.8 y). The entire premenopausal trend in BMI in late menopausal women shifted upward compared to that in early menopausal women. On the other hand, the premenopausal trend more than 4 y before menopause in serum cholesterol and the entire premenopausal trend in SBP in late menopausal women were identical to those in early menopausal women. CONCLUSION: Among the variables studied, only BMI is related to age at menopause, and the greater the BMI, the later the age at menopause.

Effects of Radiation on Fatty Liver and Metabolic Coronary Risk Factors among Atomic Bomb Survivors in Nagasaki

“…Wong et al reported that radiation exposure had no effect on BMI in women, whereas it had a negative effect on BMI in men born during 1925-1934 (43). In another study on the Nagasaki AHS cohort, radiation dose had no effect on the premenopausal trend of BMI (40). In other studies on Abomb survivors, no correlation was found between prevalence of DM and radiation dose (44,45).…”

“…In Abomb survivors of the AHS cohort, the mean growth curve of the serum cholesterol levels from 1958 to 1986 for irradiated subjects was significantly higher than that for the unirradiated subjects both in men and women (43). In another study on the Nagasaki AHS cohort, radiation dose exhibited significantly positive effects on the premenopausal trend of serum cholesterol (40). There are several possible explanations for the discrepancies between the present and the previous studies on A-bomb survivors: 1) the present study was of a cross-sectional nature, whereas the past studies were of a longitudinal nature; and 2) the effects of radiation on blood pressure and serum cholesterol could be explained to a large extent by the effects of radiation on fatty liver.…”

“…Shimizu et al showed that the mortality of hypertensive heart disease increased with radiation dose in A-bomb survivors in the LSS cohort (4). In addition, radiation dose had significantly positive effects on the premenopausal trend of systolic blood pressure in the Nagasaki AHS cohort (40). On the other hand, in animal experiments, irradiation has been shown to stimulate cholesterol synthesis in the liver, leading to an increase in the serum cholesterol level (41,42).…”

Correlation of body mass index and age of menopause in women attending medicine and gynaecology department of a tertiary care centre

“…In a study conducted by Akahosi M et al, over 1136 natural menopause women, the age of menopause ranged from as early as 45-49 years (mean 48.3+/-1.2 years). 5 In the women attaining menopause late the BMI was significantly higher, p value <0.05. The entire premenopausal trend in BMI in late menopausal women shifted upward compared to that in early menopausal women.…”

Assessment of the BMI, WHR and W/Ht in pre- and postmenopausal women

“…On the other hand, however, researchers indicate the subsequent protective role of adiposity during the climacterium period, which manifests in later menopause in women having a higher BMI [AKAHOSI et al 2002]. As under-lined by KIRCHENGAST [1993], more corpulent women having higher circumference and breadth measurements produce more oestrogen during the climacterium than very slender women.…”