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Higher body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage are associated with greater somatic symptom severity in perimenopausal women

In a cross-sectional study of 112 Irish perimenopausal women, higher BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage were significantly correlated with overall menopausal symptom severity, but after adjusting for confounders, these body composition measures predicted only somatic symptoms (e.g., hot flushes, sleep problems, joint pain). No significant associations were found with psychological or urogenital symptoms. Median BMI was 28.3 kg/m², mean body fat percentage was 34.9%, and median MRS score was 15.0.

Last updated: Aug 19, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Association between body composition and perimenopausal symptom severity in Irish women.

observational

Murphy MB, Cuskelly G, Heavey P · Post reproductive health (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A (cross-sectional)
Intervention: None (observational study)
Outcome: Menopausal symptom severity measured by the 11-item Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), including overall, somatic, psychological, and urogenital sub-scores
Effect Size: N/A (correlations reported, p ≤ 0.002 for overall score)
Population: 112 perimenopausal women aged over 40 years in Ireland

Result:

PubMed: 42592959DOI: 10.1080/20533691.2026.2704833

Mechanism Graph

Perimenopause is associated with changes in body composition, including increased body fat and central adiposity.
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Higher body fat and central adiposity may influence hormonal and inflammatory pathways.
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These physiological changes may exacerbate somatic symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep problems, and joint pain.
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Result: Higher BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage are linked to greater somatic symptom severity.

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or direction of association.
  • ⚠Sample size is relatively small (n=112) and limited to Irish women, which may limit generalizability.
  • ⚠Potential residual confounding from unmeasured factors (e.g., diet, comorbidities) despite adjustments.
  • ⚠Self-reported symptom severity may be subject to recall bias.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the relationship between body composition and perimenopausal symptoms?▼

Higher BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage are associated with more severe physical (somatic) symptoms like hot flushes, sleep problems, and joint pain, but not with psychological or urogenital symptoms.

Does this study prove that body fat causes worse symptoms?▼

No, because it is a cross-sectional study, it only shows an association, not cause and effect.

What measures of body composition were used?▼

Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body fat percentage.

Who were the participants in this study?▼

112 perimenopausal women aged over 40 years living in Ireland.

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References

  1. 1.Murphy MB, Cuskelly G, Heavey P. "Association between body composition and perimenopausal symptom severity in Irish women.." Post reproductive health, 2026. PMID: 42592959 DOI: 10.1080/20533691.2026.2704833
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.