Menopause alters the risk for a variety of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of mortality in older women. While the associations between menopause, increased total and intra-abdominal fat (IAF), and risk for coronary disease are well established, prospective studies describing the accumulation of IAF, the association with risk factors, and potential mechanistic aspects, are still lacking. This study has the potential to provide important information on the trajectory of IAF accumulation across the menopausal transition in minority and non-minority women.