Lower body fat mass can predict spinal weakness in women after menopause

A link has been found between lower body fat mass and increased risk of spinal bone loss in postmenopausal women, says research published in Osteoporosis International.
A total of 204 men and 513 women aged at least 50 years were involved in the Australian study. Bone mineral density, fat mass and lean mass were measured every two years between 2000 and 2010, to see which form of body mass could predict rates of bone density changes.
The rate of bone loss at the top of the thigh bone (femoral neck) and the lower back (lumbar spine) was faster in women than in men, with each 5kg increase in fat mass associated with a yearly 0.4% reduction in bone loss rates at the lumbar spine.
This link persisted after the researchers took into account lean mass and other variables. But there was no significant association between fat mass and any changes in femoral neck bone density in either men or women
“Lower fat mass was an independent but modest risk factor for greater bone loss at the lumbar spine in women, but not in men,” the researchers conclude. “If further studies confirm our findings, fat mass can help predict lumbar spine bone loss in women.”
A spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK comments:
“There is a known association between low body weight and the onset of osteoporosis, which is confirmed by this study. However, it’s one of several risk factors, which include a lack of weight-bearing activities, heavy drinking and smoking and a poor diet. Osteoporosis also runs in families.”

Image credit: Janet Hudson

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