Sex- and menopause-associated changes in body-fat distribution

Abstract

We investigated sex- and menopause-related differences in body composition and regional fat distribution, using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in nonobese healthy volunteers. Men (n = 103) had a 50% greater lean tissue mass (P < 0.001) but a 13% lower fat mass (P < 0.001) than the women (n = 131). Postmenopausal (n = 70) women had a 20% greater fat mass (P < 0.001) than premenopausal (n = 61) women. The proportion of android (upper body) fat was greatest in men (48.6%, P < 0.001) but was significantly lower in premenopausal (38.3%) than in postmenopausal (42.1%) women (P < 0.001). The reverse was found for gynoid (lower body) fat (P < 0.001 ). DEXA measurements thus clearly demonstrated that sex differences in total fat mass were opposite those of android fat, and that marked menopausal changes in fat mass and its distribution existed. Body mass indices did not demonstrate that men had less total fat than women whereas postmenopausal women had more total fat than did premenopausal women. Our findings suggest that DEXA measurements of fat distribution may be useful for studies related to obesity-associated disease risk.