Central abdominal fat and endogenous hormones during the menopausal transition

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of endogenous hormone levels on central abdominal fat during the menopausal transition in a population-based cohort of Australian-born women. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Population-based sample. Body composition was assessed in the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and interviews were conducted at the patient's home. Subject(s): One hundred two women from the Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project. Data, physical measures, and blood were obtained by interview when the longitudinal study commenced (baseline) and at the time of the total body scan approximately 5 years later. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiomet..