The Relationship between Bone Mineral Density and Obesity in Women

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between obesity and osteoporosis. A total of 30 Saudi women, 20 - 50 years of age, were randomly selected. We calculated the body mass index (BMI) and determined the lumbar and femur bone mineral density using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We examined the interaction between obesity and bone mineral density (BMD) using logistic regression after adjusting for age, a family history of osteoporosis, maternal fractures, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle. BMI was shown to be the most effective independent variable with respect to bone density. We evaluated the Pearson correlation coefficients of BMI, BMD of the lumbar spine, and BMD of the femoral neck with the variables of the study and found a significant (P < 0.05) correlation between obesity and osteoporosis. In conclusion, we showed that obese women (BMI > 30 kg/m2) are at increased risk for osteoporosis at the femoral neck and severe osteopenia in the lumbar spine.