Anthropometric measures – menopausal women

The comparison between the two OEC/HES surveys (1998-02 and 2008-12) shows that:
in menopausal women (mean age: 62 years old), the mean value of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio remained unchanged (28 Kg/m², 90 cm and 0,87), respectively) over the considered decade. Also the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity remained substantially unchanged (around 30% and 50% respectively).

Definitions and reference

Persons with a BMI between 25 and 29kg/m² were considered overweight, and those with a BMI ≥30kg/m² were considered obese. The waist-to-hip ratio was reported along with the index used for abdominal obesity (waist >102cm in men and >88cm in women).

Reference: Giampaoli S, Palmieri L, Donfrancesco C, Lo Noce C, Pilotto L, Vanuzzo D, on behalf of The Osservatorio Epidemiologico Cardiovascolare/Health Examination Survey Research Group. Cardiovascular health in Italy. Ten-year surveillance of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors: Osservatorio Epidemiologico Cardiovascolare/Health Examination Survey 1998–2012.. European journal of preventive cardiology 2015;22(2 Suppl):9-37.