Factors Associated with Adiposity, Lipid Profile Disorders and the Metabolic Syndrome Occurrence in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women

The aim of the study was the assessment of the dependencies between a woman's menopausal status and adiposity, lipid profile and metabolic syndrome occurrence, as well as finding out whether the correlations between the socio-demographic profile and lifestyle elements and adiposity, lipid profile and the risk of MetS are the same before and after menopause. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 3636 women, aged between 40-59, which involved a questionnaire interview, anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples, on the basis of which the concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose was estimated. Before menopause, a greater adiposity (BMI beta = 0.08; % BF beta = 0.07; WC beta = 0.06) was characteristic for women living in a stable relationship than for single women. Women who smoked in the past were characterized by a higher BMI (beta = 0.09) and WC (beta = 0.06) in comparison with women who have never smoked, while after menopause a greater adiposity (% BF beta = 0.12) and a worse lipid profile (TC beta = 0.08; LDL beta = 0.07; HDL beta = -0.05; TG beta = 0.14) were present in women currently smoking, in comparison to women who have never smoked. After menopause, in women who had two or more children, a greater adiposity (BMI beta = 0.07 and 0.09; % BF beta = 0.05 and 0.07) and a higher risk of MetS (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03-1.44) was observed compared to nulliparous women, than before menopause. In women with a higher level of education, the risk of MetS after menopause was significantly lower compared with women with a lower level of education (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61-0.90). Physical activity after menopause had a higher influence on the decrease in the women's adiposity (BMI beta = -0.11 v. -0.06; % BF beta = -0.11 v. -0.06; WC beta = -0.14 v. -0.08), than before menopause. In women not undergoing hormone replacement therapy, some of the socio-demographic factors and lifestyle elements affected adiposity, lipid profile and the risk of MetS differently before and after menopause, which requires verification through long-term research.