Introduction: Menopause is physiological event in women’s life and is associated with unfavourable changes in body composition and abdominal fat distribution as well more atherogenic lipid profile. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to study the body composition and lipid profile in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine postmenopausal women were selected after their consent and divided into two groups. Group-I consists of 32 postmenopausal women within 5 years of menopause and Group-II consists of 37 postmenopausal women after 5 years of menopause. The body composition parameters were measured by classical anthropometry and skin fold callipers and lipid profile parameters were analysed by enzymatic method. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained. Statistical Analysis: Data was expressed as mean±SD. Student’s unpaired’ test was used for analysis. p value less than 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean values of body Weight, BMI, BSA, WC, HC, FM, FFM, FMI and MM were more in Group-I compared to Group II and WHR and BF% were more in Group-II compared to Group-I. These variations were not statistically significant. The lipid profile parameters i.e. TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TC/HDL in Group-II subjects were found to be nonsignificantly higher when compared to Group-I subjects. Discussion and Conclusion: The increase in the lipid profile in Group-II subjectsmay be due to increased intra-abdominal adipose tissue. These changes may be due to hormonal changes and depend on physical activity, life style, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, ethnicity and genetic make-up of individual rather than on duration after menopause.

Keywords: Menopause; Body Composition; Lipid Profile.