PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of menopause on weight change in Japanese women. METHODS: Community-based sample of 828 Japanese women who were premenopausal and aged 40 to 54 years completed a self-administered questionnaire asking information on demographic factors, body size, reproductive history and dietary and behavioral factors in 1992. They responded to a follow-up questionnaire asking weight and menopausal status in 1998. RESULTS: Women gained weight modestly, on average, 0.17 kg during the 6-year study period. Weight gain was significantly higher in women who remained premenopausal at follow-up than those who had natural menopause during the study period. Weight gain was significantly associated with early menarche in women who had natural menopause and with high parity in women remained premenopausal. CONCLUSION: Reproductive factors rather than sociodemographic and behavioral factors appeared to be associated with weight change during the perimenopausal period. Onset of menopause may diminish weight gain. In contrast, early menarche and high parity showed relationships with weight gain. Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc.