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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Claire Venker, BS, Raysenia James, BS, Nicole Wright, MPH, Skye Nicholas, MS, and Zhao Chen, PhD, MPH. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1540 E. Drachman, PO Box 245203, Tucson, AZ 85724, 520-891-0327, cvenker@u.arizona.edu

Background: Ethnic differences in body composition among postmenopausal women have not been well defined. This report describes ethnic differences in lean mass, fat mass, and distribution of fat mass using data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study. Methods: In a prospective cohort design, 6475 women aged 50-79 years were recruited at 3 WHI Clinical Centers in Tucson, AZ, Birmingham, AL, and Pittsburgh, PA. Body composition measurements were made using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline, and at 3 and 6 years of follow-up. Average age at baseline was 63.7 +/- 7.5 years. Self-reported ethnicities in the sample were 76.8% White, 12.9% Black, 7.4% Hispanic, 1.8% Native American, and 1.1% undefined. Results: Age-adjusted mean weight, BMI, total lean mass, percent lean mass, total fat mass, percent fat mass, and trunk-to-limb percent fat mass ratio (TLFR) are reported for each race/ethnicity at baseline in Table 1, along with p-values from analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Black and Native American women had higher average weight and BMI than Whites, and higher total fat mass. Minority women had lower percent lean mass, higher percent fat mass, and higher TLFR values than White women. Rates of change in body composition by race/ethnicity will be analyzed using follow-up data. Conclusions: Black, Hispanic, and Native American women have significantly different body composition from White women. Since the WHI is not a population-based study, more research is needed to confirm our findings and to understand the impacts of these differences on health in all groups.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session the participant (learner) will be able to

• Describe racial/ethnic differences in body composition found among postmenopausal women participating in the Women's Health Initiative.
• Describe changes in body composition over time, and differences in changes by race/ethnicity.

Keywords: Ethnicity, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No