Want to cut down the number of hot flashes you’re experiencing? Losing weight might help.
A new study confirms earlier research suggesting weight gain increases the rate of hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopause symptoms . Results of the study were published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society.
According to results of the study, which involved 749 Brazilian women aged 45 to 60, women who are overweight or obese experience more severe hot flashes that often having a negative impact on their quality of life. This supports the “thermoregulatory theory,” which suggests body mass index (BMI) is associated with symptoms such as hot flashes, because body fat acts as a heat insulator.
Researchers also confirmed an association between BMI and other symptoms of menopause, including joint pain, muscle pain, and urinary problems. Some studies have shown that exercise and weight loss can help reduce menopause symptoms in women who are overweight or obese.