Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

6-1987

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Human Ecology

Major Professor

Roy E. Beauchene

Committee Members

John Smith, Jane Savage, Don Franks

Abstract

Changes in serum dehydroepiandosterone sulfate (DS), free testosterone (FT), estrogen (E), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were studied in 50 morbidly obese women (38 premenopausal, 12 postmenopausal) who participated in a 6 month weight reduction program.

The natural log of the initial hormone levels were regressed with body weight, percent of ideal body weight, percent body fat, body mass index and weight and height in premenopausal obese, post-menopausal obese and lean premenopausal controls. Analysis of changes in hormone levels after 3 and 6 months participation in the weight loss program were determined on pre- and postmenopausal obese women.

The postmenopausal obese women had significantly lower initial DS and E levels than did the premenopausal groups of women.

The premenopausal obese women (109 kg body weight) demonstrated a significant direct relationship between initial LPT (log FT) and body weight adjusted for age as well as LFT and percent ideal body weight adjusted for age, LFT and percent body fat adjusted for age and LFT and body mass index adjusted for age.

Postmenopausal obese women (92 kg body weight) demonstrated a significant direct relationship between initial LE (log LE) and body weight, LE and percent of ideal body weight, LE and percent body fat, LE and weight and height, and LE and body mass index. iv V

After 3 months into the weight reduction program, 19 premenopausal obese women lost an average of 4.4 kg and 7 postmenopausal obese women gained an average .4 kg. There were 8 premenopausal obese women in the study for 6 months, and they lost an average of 12.8 kg. The premenopausal obese women showed significant reductions in FT after 6 months weight reduction. There were no significant changes in E levels in postmenopausal obese women.

This study supports the theory that weight loss tends to normalize altered FT and SHBG levels in obese premenopausal women. The lack of obese postmenopausal women participation throughout the 6 month weight reduction phase limited conclusive findings for this sub-group of obese women. Exercise appeared to aid the weight loss process and the normalization of hormones in this study.

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