Judy Ryan
The University of Dublin, Ireland
Title: Menopause and its influence on the weight status of women with an Intellectual Disability (ID), when controlling for confounding factors
Biography
Biography: Judy Ryan
Abstract
Introduction: Menopause status influences central adiposity when measured using waist circumference and waist to hip ratio, adjusting for weight (BMI), and Barthel Index and activity levels in women with an intellectual disability.
Methodology: Evidence for this study emanates from the intellectual disability supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Objective measures of height and weight, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio were obtained from 350 women with an intellectual disability (ID) in wave 2 of the IDS-TILDA study. Menopause status was categorized as pre (reporting continuation of menses) and post (self-reported 12 month of amenorrhea). Participant’s reported their menopause status. Barthel index was calculated to measure performance in activities of daily living along with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Logistic regression was conducted to determine the magnitude of the relationships between menopause and waist circumference controlling for all other variables in the model.
Results: In total 75% (n=262) of women had experienced the menopause. Waist circumference measures for substantially increased risk of metabolic syndrome were apparent in 82.8% of participants. Waist-to-hip-classification was high in 80.1%. Barthel index revealed severe dependency in 51.5% participants with just 1.2% engaging in a high level of physical activity (IPAQ).
Conclusion: Menopause, as a foreseeable life stage in the lives of women with an ID. Accentuating central adiposity and associated risk factors for women with an ID, who have experienced the menopause will inform behaviour and lifestyle change.