Abstract

RICO MARTIN, Sergio et al. Physical activity and obesity in women and their relationship with menopause. Index Enferm [online]. 2017, vol.26, n.3, pp.138-141. ISSN 1699-5988.

Objective: to relate the physical activity level with obesity in premenopausal and postmenopausal healthy women in the health area of Caceres. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study. The study was carried out during the months of December 2014 and March 2015. 199 women in the health were recruited. 37,7% are premenopausal and 62,3% postmenopausal. It used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to measure the physical activity level in its short version. With another questionnaire, data population characteristics such as age, height and weight and gonadal status were collected. Results: Mild physical activity is presented as a risk factor for developing overweight and obesity in all women studied [OR 0,39 (0,20 to 0,76) and OR 0,42 (0,18 to 0,98 ) respectively] and the postmenopausal group [OR 0,30 (0,12 to 0,34) and OR 0,60 (0,23 to 1,56), respectively], while moderate and active physical activity is presented as a protective factor. Conclusions: moderate and vigorous physical activity is a protective factor for the development of overweight in postmenopausal women.

Keywords : Menopause; Physical activity; Obesity; Overweight.