Low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives and fat patterning in
young women
M Taebi1, M Noroozi2, Z Paknahad3
1Kashan Medical Science University, Department
of Nursing & Midwifery, Kashan, Iran, 2Isfahan Medical Science University,
Department
of Nursing& Midwifery, Isfahan, Iran, 3Isfahan Medical Science University,
Department of Hygiene, Isfahan, Iran
Objective To assess the relationship
between oral contraceptive use during reproductive age and body fat distribution
parameters: waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR).
Design and methods Seven hundred fifty women living in Isfahan were involved in this
cross-sectional study that selected by cluster sampling. In this research data
were collected through questionnaire and standard meter. Test-re-test was
employed to determine the questionnaire reliability and content validity was
used to determine its validity. Descriptive (Mean, Median, SD, Max, Min) and
analytical statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient, Independent student
t-test) were used for data analysis.
Results The results showed that there was
a significant relationship between consuming low-dose oral contraceptive pills
(LD) with waist circumference (p=0.009) and waist to hip ratio (p=0.039). There
was no significant association between duration of taking LD contraceptive with
WC and WHR (p>0.05) indexes.
Discussion The use of oral contraceptive pills
(OCs) in young women is not associated with increased body fat. The women
tacking the estrogen OCs were more likely to have circumference measurement with
a more gynoid shape. However, when weight gain did occur during OCs use, it was
not associated with change in fat distribution.
KEY WORDS Fat Distribution,
Waist Circumference, Waist to hip ratio, Oral Contraceptive Pills.