Body composition, body mass index, waist circumference and perimenopausal symptoms  in women living in Ireland. 
M.B. Murphy1 , R. Owens2 , L. Edwards3 , G.J. Cuskelly4 and P.M. Heavey5  1,2,3,4,5SHE (Sport Health and Exercise) Research Group, Department of Sport & Health  Sciences, Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Republic of Ireland.
Menopause, as signified by 12 months of amenorrhea, marks the end of female fertility(1). The  perimenopausal stage preceding this event, is frequently symptomatic, with previous research  suggesting that a higher body mass index (BMI) may be associated with more severe menopausal  symptoms(2). Changes to body composition have also previously been linked to the decline in  hormones that accompany this midlife transition(3). This cross-sectional, observational study aimed  to shed light on this underexplored area in Ireland. 
Approval was granted by the Technological University of the Shannon Research Ethics Committee.  A convenience sample of perimenopausal women (>40 years old) were recruited via social media  and workplaces. Participants self-reported their symptom severity using the previously validated  Menopause Rating Scale (MRS)(4). Psychological, somatic, and urogenital symptom categories  were rated from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (very severe symptoms), with a potential maximum score of  44. An overall score and a sub-score for each of the 3 symptom categories was generated. Participants self-identified their perimenopausal stage (early or late) based on descriptions of the STRAW+10 criterion(5). A range of anthropometric measurements were taken including height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and body fat (BF) percentage (using TANITA MC-580 tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance scales). Following descriptive analysis, Spearman’s correlation coefficient was utilised to test the relationship between MRS and anthropometric measurements. 
Participants (N=112) had a mean age of 48.05 ± 3.48 years, a mean WC of 95.2 ± 16.9cm, a mean  BF percentage of 34.9 ± 7.3. Prevalence of healthy, overweight, and obesity BMI amongst  participants was 29%, 36% and 36% respectively, with a mean of 29.0 ± 6.6kg/m2 amongst the  sample. Overall mean MRS symptom score was 15.3 ± 6.9. There was a positive correlation  between participant’s overall symptom rating and, their BF percentage (r= 0.30, P=0.001), WC  (r=0.30, P=0.002), and BMI (r=0.31, P=0.001). This relationship was also observed in the symptom  sub-score categories. Somatic sub-score positively correlated with BF percentage (r=0.24,  P=0.010), WC (r=0.31, P<0.001) and BMI (r=0.31, P<0.001). Urogenital sub-score was similarly  positively correlated to all 3 anthropometric measurements, BF percentage (r=0.24, P=.010), WC  (r=0.24, P=0.011), and BMI (r=0.23, P=0.014). Psychological sub-score was correlated positively  with BF percentage (r=0.23, P=0.015) and BMI (r=0.21, P=0.026), but not WC. 
The findings from this study suggest that a higher BF percentage, WC and BMI may be associated  with a more symptomatic perimenopausal stage. Further studies are warranted to further explore  this, and how to target interventions.
References 
1. Rees M, Abernethy K, Bachmann G et al. (2022) The essential menopause curriculum for healthcare professionals: A European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) position statement. Maturitas 158:70–7. 
2. Cao V, Clark A & Aggarwal B (2023) Obesity and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms: a Contemporary Review. Curr Diab Rep 12:361-370 
3. Fenton A (2021) Weight, Shape, and Body Composition Changes at Menopause. J -Life Health 12(3):187–92. 
4. Heinemann K, Ruebig A, Potthoff P et al. (2004) The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) scale: A methodological review. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2(1):45. 
5. Harlow SD, Gass M, Hall JE et al. (2012) Executive summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10: addressing the unfinished agenda of staging reproductive aging. Menopause N Y N. 19(4):387–95.

### **Body composition, body mass index, waist circumference and perimenopausal symptoms  in women living in Ireland.** 
_M.B. Murphy1 , R. Owens2 , L. Edwards3 , G.J. Cuskelly4 and P.M. Heavey5  1,2,3,4,5SHE (Sport Health and Exercise) Research Group, Department of Sport & Health  Sciences, Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Republic of Ireland._
Menopause, as signified by 12 months of amenorrhea, marks the end of female fertility(1). The  perimenopausal stage preceding this event, is frequently symptomatic, with previous research  suggesting that a higher body mass index (BMI) may be associated with more severe menopausal  symptoms(2). Changes to body composition have also previously been linked to the decline in  hormones that accompany this midlife transition(3). This cross-sectional, observational study aimed  to shed light on this underexplored area in Ireland. 
Approval was granted by the Technological University of the Shannon Research Ethics Committee.  A convenience sample of perimenopausal women (>40 years old) were recruited via social media  and workplaces. Participants self-reported their symptom severity using the previously validated  Menopause Rating Scale (MRS)(4). Psychological, somatic, and urogenital symptom categories  were rated from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (very severe symptoms), with a potential maximum score of  44. An overall score and a sub-score for each of the 3 symptom categories was generated. Participants self-identified their perimenopausal stage (early or late) based on descriptions of the STRAW+10 criterion(5). A range of anthropometric measurements were taken including height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and body fat (BF) percentage (using TANITA MC-580 tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance scales). Following descriptive analysis, Spearman’s correlation coefficient was utilised to test the relationship between MRS and anthropometric measurements. 
Participants (N=112) had a mean age of 48.05 ± 3.48 years, a mean WC of 95.2 ± 16.9cm, a mean  BF percentage of 34.9 ± 7.3. Prevalence of healthy, overweight, and obesity BMI amongst  participants was 29%, 36% and 36% respectively, with a mean of 29.0 ± 6.6kg/m2 amongst the  sample. Overall mean MRS symptom score was 15.3 ± 6.9. There was a positive correlation  between participant’s overall symptom rating and, their BF percentage (r= 0.30, P=0.001), WC  (r=0.30, P=0.002), and BMI (r=0.31, P=0.001). This relationship was also observed in the symptom  sub-score categories. Somatic sub-score positively correlated with BF percentage (r=0.24,  P=0.010), WC (r=0.31, P<0.001) and BMI (r=0.31, P<0.001). Urogenital sub-score was similarly  positively correlated to all 3 anthropometric measurements, BF percentage (r=0.24, P=.010), WC  (r=0.24, P=0.011), and BMI (r=0.23, P=0.014). Psychological sub-score was correlated positively  with BF percentage (r=0.23, P=0.015) and BMI (r=0.21, P=0.026), but not WC. 
The findings from this study suggest that a higher BF percentage, WC and BMI may be associated  with a more symptomatic perimenopausal stage. Further studies are warranted to further explore  this, and how to target interventions.
**References** 
1. Rees M, Abernethy K, Bachmann G et al. (2022) The essential menopause curriculum for healthcare professionals: A European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) position statement. Maturitas 158:70–7. 
2. Cao V, Clark A & Aggarwal B (2023) Obesity and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms: a Contemporary Review. Curr Diab Rep 12:361-370 
3. Fenton A (2021) Weight, Shape, and Body Composition Changes at Menopause. J -Life Health 12(3):187–92. 
4. Heinemann K, Ruebig A, Potthoff P et al. (2004) The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) scale: A methodological review. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2(1):45. 
5. Harlow SD, Gass M, Hall JE et al. (2012) Executive summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10: addressing the unfinished agenda of staging reproductive aging. Menopause N Y N. 19(4):387–95.

OC111 - Body composition, body mass index, waist circumference and perimenopausal symptoms in women living in Ireland

Unique to the new Congress (previously the Summer Conference) is that you will have greater opportunity to engage with more nutrition science than ever before. In 2024 the core programme will be delivered by the Irish Section of The Nutrition Society, supported by the Science Committee. The theme of these symposia will be ‘new data – focused approaches and challenges’. Outside of the core programme you will have the chance to hear the latest research from the Society’s partner organisations, universities, the private sector and more, on a diverse range of research.