Body Mass Index, waist circumference or sagittal abdominal diameter: Which parameter is better correlated with body fat changes in postmenopausal women after combined training protocol?

Objective: We aimed to verify whether exercise-induced changes in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) are correlated with changes in body fat (BF) in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Seventeen postmenopausal women performed combined training three times a week, for 12 weeks. Correlations of delta (Δ) BMI, Δ WC, and Δ SAD with Δ total BF, Δ android and Δ gynoid fats were performed.

Results: Weight, BMI and android fat decreased over time. A tendency of reductions in gynoid fat was found (p = 0.070). Delta BMI was positively correlated with Δ total BF (r = 0.56; p < 0.05), Δ android fat (r = 0.64; p < 0.05), and Δ gynoid fat (r = 0.72; p < 0.05). The Δ WC was only correlated with Δ gynoid fat (r = 0.55; p < 0.05). The Δ SAD was not correlated with all the Δ body fat parameters evaluated.

Conclusion: We conclude that changes in BMI were better associated with body fat changes induced by combined training when compared to WC and SAD in postmenopausal women. The patients were part of a 12-week training study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03200639).