Purpose: To analyze the relationship between physical activity and body composition in menopausal women.
Methods: The study included 62 menopausal women aged 50 years or more (61.2±7.6). The practice of physical activity was assessed with an accelerometer and is reported as minutes per week of low physical activity and moderate plus vigorous physical activity, and total physical activity in counts. Lean mass and total fat mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and are reported as percentages. The relation between body composition variables and physical activity was evaluated by Spearman and Pearson correlation. Comparisons between groups were performed using the independent t test and Mann-Whitney test.
Results: The age group 59 years or older had higher mean values of total physical activity in counts (1,307.081 versus 2,843.840) and of minutes per week of moderate-vigorous physical activity (273 versus 156 minutes). Women who completed 150 minutes or more of moderate-vigorous physical activity had significantly lower total fat mass (43.8 versus 47.2 kg), higher lean mass (53.8 versus 49.6 kg) and lower BMI (27.7 versus 30.5 kg/m²) when compared to those with less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Only time spent in moderate activities showed a significant negative correlation with the percentage of total fat (r=-0.26, p<0.05), whereas total physical activity in counts correlated with the percentage of lean body mass (r=0,30), percentage of total fat (r=-0.32), trunk fat (r=-0.29), and BMI (r=-0.32); all correlations were statistically significant at p<0.05.
Conclusion: menopausal women aged 50 years or more who spent more minutes in moderate and vigorous activity and higher total physical activity counts showed lower fat mass and higher lean mass.