Lumbar spine bone mineral density in obese, overweight, and normal-weight lebanese postmenopausal women

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide and in Lebanon (1–4). Although obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, it may prevent osteoporosis, which is very common in postmenopausal women (1–7). In fact, body mass index (BMI) is a positive predictor of hip bone mineral density (BMD) and a negative predictor of fracture risk at the femoral neck in postmenopausal women (5–7). However, the relation between BMI and lumbar spine BMD in postmenopausal women is not completely elucidated.