Is Waist-Circumference Related to Anxiety Levels in Peri and Postmenopausal Women?

Introduction: depression, anxiety, and the menopausal status seem to play an important role on the etiology of obesity, overweight and increased waist circumference; variables which could be important predictors of cardiometabolic risk. Given this association, it is our aim to evaluate the relationship between waist circumference and anxiety scores in a group of peri and postmenopausal women. Method: we evaluated 329 participants with a mean age of 52.4 years; 20.06% perimenopausal and 79.9% postmenopausal. We performed an evaluation of both reproductive status, using the classification of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop, and anxiety, using the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory as well as anthropometric measures. Statistical analysis involved descriptive analysis using chi-square and t-test. Bivariate correlations explored variables related to waist circumference; and finally, a logistic model examined the association between waist circumference and anxiety. Results: we observed a significant correlation between waist circumference and state anxiety and trait anxiety. We did not observe a correlation between anxiety and menopausal status, hormone replacement therapy and age. For every one-point increase in the anxiety-state score in the STAI evaluation, the risk of having a waist #cer# 88 cm, increased by 4%. Discussion and Conclusions: findings suggest that high levels of anxiety during menopausal transition are related to a greater circumference of the waist. Prospective studies with a larger sample could clarify the nature of this association.