Prevalence of Generalized and Central Obesity in a Group of Pre and Postmenopausal Women in Galle.

Abstract

Postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women, are prone to increase body weight, waist circumference (WC) and total body fat percentage (TBFo/o) caused by obesity and android fat redistribution leads to central obesity. This cross­sectional study was aimed to assess the prevalence of generalized and central obesity among a group of pre and postmenopausal women in Galle. Women (n=350) age between 30-60 years (184 premenopausal and 166 postmenopausal) were selected with multi-stage cluster sampling. Anthropometric measurements (weight; kg, height; m, waist and hip circumference; cm) were obtained adhering to standard protocols. TBBFo/o was measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Body Mass Index (BMI, kg/m2) thresholds recommended by the WHO for Asians and DXA measured TBFo/o >30% were used to detect the generalized obesity. WC and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) were used to evaluate the central obesity. Prevalence figures were presented and frequency (%) and association with menopausal status were observed with Chi square test. Mean (SD) age of pre and postmenopausal women were 46.11(3.74) and 55.83(3.80) years respectively. BM[, WC and WHR were not significantly different between pre and postmenopausal women (p>0.05). Prevalence of generalized obesity based on Asian BM! thresholds between pre (27.7%) and postmenopausal women (32.5), central obesity based on WC between pre (61.4%) and postmenopausal women (62.0%) and central obesity based on WHR between pre (78.8%) and postmenopausal women (75.9%) were not significantly different (p>0.05). However, TBFo/o based generalized obesity prevalence was significantly higher in postmenopausal women (88.0%) compared to premenopausal women (77.7%) (p=0.008). Current study revealed that, higher rate of central obesity and generalized obesity based on TBFo/o in both pre and postmenopausal women while postmenopausal women are more likely to be obese.