Body Composition and Physiological Function in Women

Cross sectional study was conducted among Rajput women of India to study the structure and physiological functions of pre menopausal and post menopausal women and also to compare them. Personal interviews and anthropometric measurements which included body weight, height, skinfold thickness and circumferences at different sites were taken. Physiological parameters like blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate and lung functions are also included. Four derived measurements namely; BMI, Waist/hip, GMT and CE were also calculated. BMI, GMT and WHR were found to be more where as CE was less in post menopausal women when compared with the pre menopausal women. The pattern of subcutaneous fat was found to be more or less similar in the pre and postmenopausal women, although the quantity of fat was found to be more in postmenopausal women. Physiological functions were found to be more efficient in pre menopausal women. Most of the postmenopausal women experienced health and psychological problems after menopause which they hadn't experienced earlier. Menopause has been found to be associated with noticeable structural, physiological and psychological changes.

Autorentext

Dr. N.K. Mungreiphy is a Post Doctoral Fellow in Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, India. She obtained M.Sc and Ph.D from University of Delhi. She was awarded JRF-SRF by UGC and Post Doctoral Fellowship by DBT, Govt. of India. She has presented papers in seminars and published research papers in national and international Journals.