Age-Related Increases in Visceral Adiposity and the Dominant Role of Lean Mass in Pulmonary Function in Non-Smoking Women

Authors

Emily J. Swaringen, Tarleton State UniversityFollow
Mandy Parra, Tarleton State UniversityFollow
Micheal Luera, Tarleton State UniversityFollow
Olivia Russell, Tarleton State UniversityFollow
Leroy Bolden, Baylor UniversityFollow
Craig Hermans, Tarleton State UniversityFollow
Jeffrey Forsse, Baylor University
Tomas J. Chapman-Lopez, Tarleton State UniversityFollow

Abstract

Aging in women is accompanied by changes in body composition, including shifts in regional fat distribution and lean mass, which may influence pulmonary function. However, the relative contributions of adiposity and lean mass to pulmonary outcomes in healthy non-smoking women remain unclear. PURPOSE: To examine age-related differences in trunk adiposity and to determine the relationships between body composition and pulmonary function in healthy non-smoking adult women. METHODS: One-hundred fourteen non-smoking women were included and stratified into younger (18–39 years, n = 53) and middle-aged (40–64 years, n = 61) groups. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, including trunk fat mass, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), android and gynoid fat distribution, and lean mass. Pulmonary function was evaluated using spirometry and ventilatory performance measures (FVC, FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC, SVC, MVV, and PEFR). Group differences were assessed using independent samples t-tests. Pearson and Spearman correlations examined associations between body composition variables and pulmonary outcomes. RESULTS: Middle-aged women exhibited significantly greater VAT volume compared with younger women (427 ± 258 vs. 293 ± 241 cm³, p = 0.004), while trunk fat mass and BMI did not differ between groups (p > 0.20). Correlation analyses revealed that lean mass variables demonstrated the strongest associations with pulmonary function, including trunk lean mass with FEV₁ (r = 0.30), FVC (r = 0.27), and MVV (r = 0.29). Total lean mass showed similar relationships with FEV₁ (r = 0.31), FVC (r = 0.27), and SVC (r = 0.26). In contrast, adiposity measures, including VAT, trunk fat mass, and BMI, displayed weak or negligible associations with pulmonary outcomes (r < 0.20). No meaningful relationships were observed between adiposity measures and airway obstruction indices (e.g., FEV₁/FVC). CONCLUSIONS: In healthy non-smoking women, pulmonary function is more strongly associated with lean mass than with adiposity or visceral fat accumulation. Although VAT increases with age, adiposity does not appear to substantially influence pulmonary function in this cohort. These findings suggest that preservation of lean mass may be an important determinant of respiratory capacity across adulthood in women.

Recommended Citation

Swaringen, Emily J.; Parra, Mandy; Luera, Micheal; Russell, Olivia; Bolden, Leroy; Hermans, Craig; Forsse, Jeffrey; and Chapman-Lopez, Tomas J. (2026) "Age-Related Increases in Visceral Adiposity and the Dominant Role of Lean Mass in Pulmonary Function in Non-Smoking Women," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 159.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/159