Aging & Social Change: Ninth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

There is currently a divide in the literature regarding the impact of menopause on certain cardiovascular risk factors, such as fat mass distribution and quantity. Some studies have proposed that a decline in endogenous estrogen levels, as indicated by a change in menopausal status, can mediate body fat quantity and distribution resulting in greater overall body fat and an increased amount of central fat in postmenopausal women. Other studies, however, have either noted no difference in fat mass quantity between premenopausal and postmenopausal women for particular regions, such as the leg, or emphasised that any observed differences in fat mass quantity or distribution were primarily due to ageing, with menopausal status having little to no effect. Due to the inconsistent evidence, it is important to systematically collect, synthesise, and analyse the results from different studies to determine the differences in fat mass quantity and distribution between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. As far as we are aware, no study has systematically summarised these findings to date. Therefore, the current study aims to address this need through a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. The findings from this study will help inform clinicians and women about changes in fat mass that occur at menopause. Furthermore, the study will help delineate the relationship between postenopausal women and cardiovascular risk factors.