A STUDY ON BODY COMPOSITION AND LIPID PROFILE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

The interactions between the various physiological risk factors for cardiovascular disease are complex in women, the risk increases markedly after menopause and eventually becomes equivalent to that of men. This observation has suggested, but has not proven, that estrogens have a protective effect against cardiovascular disease This study was done to find out the body composition and lipid profile in postmenopausal women of North-West Karnataka, and any variation in early and late postmenopausal women. The present study was conducted in the department of physiology, Al-Ameen medical college, Bijapur. Sixty nine postmenopausal women attending the hospital were selected and divided into two groups. Group-I: 32 Early postmenopausal women (up to 5years of postmenopausal duration) Group-II: 37 Late postmenopausal women (> 5years of postmenopausal duration). Then the body composition parameters were measured by classical anthropometry and skin fold calipers and lipid profile parameters were analyzed by enzymatic method. The statistical analysis was done by student’s unpaired‘t ’ test. The mean values of Wt, BMI, BSA