Menopausal transition is associated with significant hormonal changes that lead to altered body composition and regional adipose tissue accumulation. These changes further increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions in middle-aged women. In two longitudinal cohort studies , researchers from Finland studied the changes in total and regional body adiposity and analyzed skeletal muscle fibre characteristics during menopause in women of age 47–55 years.
It was found that regional and total body adiposity increased 2–14% in menopausal women; the mass being most prominent in the midsection . Menopausal progression and fat accumulation were found to be positively correlated with serum levels of adiponectin and leptin , and negatively correlated with resistin . Interestingly, menopause did not appear to affect intracellular adiposity and certain muscle fiber…
