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Women who are bothered by a common symptom of menopause may find that reducing their weight could help lower the heat. Hi, I'm Dr. Cindy Haines, host of HealthDay TV. A common problem that many women face during menopause is the sense that the thermostat has suddenly been turned way up. And these hot flashes can go on for years in many women. In a new study from the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers followed a group of overweight or obese women ages 30 and older. At the beginning of the study, 154 of the women said they were bothered at least a little by hot flashes. Some of the women were put into an intensive six-month weight-loss program, in which they were encouraged to follow a low-calorie diet, exercise regularly, and attend weekly meetings. The other women were assigned to attend health-education classes. Women attending the weight loss program had a greater chance of having improvement in their hot flashes. Factors that were associated with improved hot flashes included reduction in weight, body-mass index, and abdominal circumference. The researchers pointed out that women who are overweight and troubled by hot flashes may see improvements in these bothersome symptoms by adopting behaviors that encourage weight loss. IÕm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.
