Endocrinol Metab.  2017 Jun;32(2):248-256. 10.3803/EnM.2017.32.2.248.

Association between Body Weight Changes and Menstrual Irregularity: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010 to 2012

• Ko KM
• Han K
• Chung YJ
• Yoon KH
• Park YG
• Lee SH

• KMID: 2384084
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2017.32.2.248

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Menstrual irregularity is an indicator of endocrine disorders and reproductive health status. It is associated with various diseases and medical conditions, including obesity and underweight. We aimed to assess the association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity in Korean women.
METHODS
A total of 4,621 women 19 to 54 years of age who participated in the 2010 to 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect medical information assessing menstrual health status and body weight changes. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to evaluate the association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity.
RESULTS
Significantly higher ORs (95% CI) were observed in the association between menstrual irregularity and both weight loss (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.48) and weight gain (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.86) after adjusting for age, body mass index, current smoking, heavy alcohol drinking, regular exercise, calorie intake, education, income, metabolic syndrome, age of menarche, parity, and stress perception. Of note, significant associations were only observed in subjects with obesity and abdominal obesity, but not in non-obese or non-abdominally obese subjects. U-shaped patterns were demonstrated in both obese and abdominally obese subjects, indicating that greater changes in body weight are associated with higher odds of menstrual irregularity.
CONCLUSION
We found a U-shaped pattern of association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity among obese women in the general Korean population. This result indicates that not only proper weight management but also changes in body weight may influence the regulation of the menstrual cycle.

Keyword

Obesity, abdominal; Body weight; Menstrual irregularity; Obesity

MeSH Terms

Alcohol Drinking
Body Mass Index
Body Weight Changes*
Body Weight*
Education
Female
Humans
Korea*
Menarche
Menstrual Cycle
Nutrition Surveys*
Obesity
Obesity, Abdominal
Odds Ratio
Parity
Reproductive Health
Smoke
Smoking
Thinness
Weight Gain
Weight Loss
Smoke

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity according to obesity status (A) or abdominal obesity status (B). Adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), current smoking, heavy alcohol drinking, regular exercise, calorie intake, education, income, metabolic syndrome, age of menarche, parity, and stress perception. HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; WC, waist circumference.

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