Factors influencing waist/hip ratio in randomly selected pre- and post-menopausal women in the dom-project (preliminary results)

In 452 pre- and post-menopausal women aged 41-75, participating in a breast cancer screening programme, we studied the associations between several factors and waist/hip ratio. Differences in waist/hip ratio between pre- and post-menopausal women could be accounted for by age and degree of obesity. In post-menopausal women, waist/hip ratio was positively related to age, independently of the degree of obesity. Post-menopausal women who reported to use oestrogens for menopausal complaints were found to have lower waist/hip values compared to non-users (0.74 vs 0.78 P less than 0.05). Waist/hip ratio was not related to age at menopause, age at menarche or parity. We confirmed that the Quetelet's index is positively related to waist/hip ratio and that, at least before menopause, smokers have higher waist/hip values compared to non-smokers although the mechanisms for such an association remain obscure. Hypertension was associated with abdominal fat distribution in premenopausal but not in post-menopausal women. Diabetes mellitus was associated with abdominal fat distribution in post-menopausal women. These observations in this cross-sectional study suggest that environmental factors (smoking and oestrogen use after menopause) relate to the distribution of fat over the body. The other observations illustrate the importance of stratifying for menopausal status in studies on fat distribution in women.