The silent predictor: Exploring the link between waist to hip ratio, fear of falling, and balance impairment in postmenopausal women

This study investigated the correlation between waist-hip ratios (WHR), bone mineral density, and balance-related parameters. A total of 34 postmenopausal women, aged 50-75 years, participated in the study. They were categorized into two groups: osteoporotic (Lumbar T-score ≤ -2.5, <i>n</i> = 17) and non-osteoporotic (lumbar T-score > -1, <i>n</i> = 17). The study involved WHR assessments, recording the fear of falling score (FES), and evaluating physical status through a single-leg stance test. Balance control was determined by measuring the velocity of the center of pressure (CoP) sway in the anterior-posterior (A-P) and medial-lateral (M-L) directions. The WHR, FES, and CoP sway velocity in the M-L direction were higher in the osteoporotic group than in the non-osteoporotic group. WHR, as an independent predictor, could effectively categorize the subjects into the correct group (Wilks' lambda = 0.84, <i>p</i> = .050). The test of the function was significant (Chi-square = 10.64, <i>p</i> = .014), which explains the significant ability of the determined function for discrimination. A higher WHR value was associated with osteoporosis and an increased FES. The WHR value, a simple measure of visceral fat mass accumulation, exhibited a discriminative capability by accurately classifying 76 percent of the original grouped cases.