Effect of Aging, Menopause, and Age at Natural Menopause on the Trend in Body Mass Index: A 15-Year Population-Based Cohort Publisher Pubmed



Montazeri SA¹ ; Ramezani Tehrani F¹ ; Bidhendi Yarandi R^{1, 2} ; Erfani H^{1, 3} ; Mansournia MA² ; Azizi F⁴
Source: Fertility and Sterility Published:2019

Abstract

Objective: To observe the effects of menopause, age at natural menopause (ANM), and aging on the trend in body mass index (BMI). Design: Prospective cohort with a 15-year follow-up of 929 women. Data obtained from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Setting: Not applicable. Intervention(s): none. Participant(s): Of women participating in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, 929 who were reproductive during the study and menopaused at the last follow-up were included. Anthropometric data were measured repeatedly every 3 years, and the trend in BMI, associated with menopause and ANM, was tested using the generalized estimating equation. Main Outcome Measure(s): Body mass index in each follow-up session. Result(s): The adjusted model of the generalized estimating equation illustrates that BMI increases by age (β = 0.16) and menopausal status (β = 1.11). It also shows that women with higher ANM experienced a decreasing BMI (β = −0.03) compared with women with lower ANM. The interaction term of menopause and time (menopause × time) has a negative effect on BMI; that is, the usual increase in BMI after menopause is attenuated by time. (β = −0.4, 95% confidence interval −0.6, −0.3). Conclusion(s): Menopause and aging are independently correlated with increasing BMI. The trend in BMI, however, depends on the ANM of study participants: women with higher ANM than mean ANM of our population (i.e., 49 years) face a decreasing BMI compared with those with lower ANM. © 2018 American Society for Reproductive Medicine