Association between anthropometric indices and quality of life in menopausal women

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether body mass index (BMI), abdominal obesity or fat distribution influence the quality of life of postmenopausal women. METHODS: Subjects in this cross-sectional study were 233 postmenopausal women (aged 45-70 years) with an intact uterus and ovaries and who were sexually active and not using hormone therapy. Anthropometric measurements were recorded and subjects were interviewed using a specific health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) instrument, the MENQoL scale. RESULTS: According to BMI values, 31.5% of the women were obese, 42.2% were overweight, 25.8% were normal weight and none were underweight. However, according to the MENQOL scale results, obese women scored significantly higher on symptoms for physical domains. The women with the android pattern of fat distribution had significantly higher scores in the vasomotor and physical domains (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity did not affect global HR-QoL in postmenopausal women, but appeared to have an influence on the psychical domains. Other anthropometric measurements were not associated with differences in HR-QoL. Keeping the anthropometric indices in the normal/premenopausal might improve the quality of life in menopause women.