Age- and menopause-associated variations in body composition and fat distribution in healthy women as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

To assess the variation with age and menopause, 407 healthy normal women aged 18 to 75 years had body composition and fat distribution measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The mean +/- SD are given for different age decades. Postmenopausal women had significantly more fat, a more central fat distribution, and less lean tissue mass (LTM) than premenopausal women. In premenopausal and postmenopausal women, age only correlated with the abdominal to total-body fat tissue ratio (r approximately .24, P < .05), whereas the years since onset of menopause correlated with fat tissue mass (FTM), fat%, abdominal fat%, and the abdominal to total-body fat tissue ratio (r approximately .2, P < .05). To assess the independent impact of age, menopausal status, and years since menopause, multiple linear regressions were performed. FTM, fat%, and abdominal fat% were significantly related to menopausal status and years since menopause independently of age. The abdominal to total-body fat tissue ratio was statistically significantly related to age, but tended also to be independently related to years since menopause. LTM was statistically significantly related to menopausal status independently of age and years since menopause. In summary, we suggest that in healthy women total-body and abdominal fat may increase and LTM may decrease in the years after menopause, primarily in the perimenopausal years, without significant changes before menopause.