WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE VERSUS BMI IN POST MENOPAUSAL WOMAN IN ASSESSING HEALTH RISKS

Weight gain after menopause is a common concern in almost all women who are at this age. In a study it was estimated that on an average women gain upto 6 kilograms in 8 years.  More important than the weight gain is the waist circumference. It can quickly increase 5 to7 cms causing belly bust (MENOPOT). Besides being cosmetically ugly it is dangerous for health. It means that a woman has increased a lot of her visceral fat.

An increase of visceral fat increases the  risk of Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. It is believed that a lack of oestrogens alters the distribution of body fat; however the exact mechanism of this is not understood. Waist measurements are much better predictors of good health than BMI.  Even with a BMI of 30, a big waist measurement if more than 35 inches, or 88cms it can predict the risk of many problems such as hyperinsulinaemia (High insulin levels in the blood), diabetes, high triglycerides, lower HDL, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Women should try to maintain a relationship with BMI and waist circumference.  What causes this weight gain at menopause? There are many factors, first of all there is a lack of oestrogens, a decrease in metabolism, changes in life style factors, not running round children, more senior positions at work, therefore less running round, many 21st birthdays, 25th wedding anniversaries and many weddings. There is also decrease in body muscle proteins which is replaced by fat. To measure your waist girth draw a line at the lower margin of the ribs and uppermost line on the top of two iliac crest and centre between these two lines is the abdominal girth.

This goes through the belly button, I have already mentioned its girth (35 inches or 88cms) when it is high all the diseases can occur, any way they become commoner with increasing age. The two best things to improve your health are to decrease your weight and increase your exercises. As regards you weight I have a few suggestions like having regular meals, do not eat junk food, cut your calories by 100 or 200, you will not even notice it. Have a smaller plate, cut down on fried fatty food, eliminate sugar, lower the fat intake, some of these changes and more that you can add yourself will help you a lot. Keep up your nutrition by eating calcium rich green vegetables (Bok Choy, kale, and spinach) Vitamin D and B complex and grains, flax seed. All these give us, antioxidants, carotinoids, flavinoids, omega 3, and probiotics. Think of your meals as a rainbow to look at and rainbow for your health.

The other thing you need to do is exercises, they can be weight training exercises, aerobics, swimming, yoga, gardening, dancing, sports or simple fast walking. Do them at the rate of 30 minutes a day. See if you are losing weight and waist size.  Keep an eye on your cholesterol, HDL, Triglycerides, blood pressure, and glucose levels and if all this is happening, you are home. So you need to focus on weight, more so on waist circumference. If you think you need HRT do not hesitate especially if you are under 60 years of age. If you are older you may be very well be helped for treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (dry vagina, incontinence). If you have no cardiac problems and you have had a hysterectomy in my opinion a small dose of transdermal (on the skin) oestrogens can be magical.