What association is noted between postmenopausal obesity and estrogen?

What association is noted between postmenopausal obesity and estrogen?

• A. Increased estrogen production from the ovaries
• B. Circulating estrogen produced in fatty tissue
• C. Decreased estrogen production overall
• D. No association to hormone levels

Answer: (B)

In postmenopausal women, the ovaries cease to produce significant amounts of estrogen, leading to a reliance on other sources for this hormone. One of the key sources of estrogen after menopause is adipose (fat) tissue. Adipose tissue contains an enzyme called aromatase, which converts androgens (like testosterone and androstenedione) into estrogen. Therefore, as women gain weight or have higher levels of fat tissue, the increased adipose tissue can lead to elevated levels of circulating estrogens, thus creating an association between postmenopausal obesity and increased estrogen production from fatty tissue. This relationship is significant because higher estrogen levels in the body can influence various health outcomes, including an increased risk of breast cancer among other conditions. Understanding this mechanism is crucial in considering the implications of obesity in postmenopausal women, especially in the context of hormonal health and cancer risk.

In postmenopausal women, the ovaries cease to produce significant amounts of estrogen, leading to a reliance on other sources for this hormone. One of the key sources of estrogen after menopause is adipose (fat) tissue. Adipose tissue contains an enzyme called aromatase, which converts androgens (like testosterone and androstenedione) into estrogen. Therefore, as women gain weight or have higher levels of fat tissue, the increased adipose tissue can lead to elevated levels of circulating estrogens, thus creating an association between postmenopausal obesity and increased estrogen production from fatty tissue.

This relationship is significant because higher estrogen levels in the body can influence various health outcomes, including an increased risk of breast cancer among other conditions. Understanding this mechanism is crucial in considering the implications of obesity in postmenopausal women, especially in the context of hormonal health and cancer risk.