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Interrelation
of obesity and menopause symptoms
Obesity
has almost reached the dimension of an epidemic in America and
both women and men are fast adding up to their existing weights
with increased volumes of fat and adipose tissues. In fact, some
studies suggest that women are at a greater risk of putting on
weight than men, and more so if the woman is on the verge of reaching
her menopausal age. It has been established that there is a strong
interrelation between obesity and menopause symptoms.
Researchers have observed that a woman's tendency to become obese
increases when she reaches her prime or menopause. It is also
during this time that a direct shift in fat movement is seen in
the bodies of all women. For instance, fat now flows into those
areas of the body which were less troubled earlier. What till
now predominantly accumulated in the lower body portions of a
woman now begins to show preference for the abdomen or the belly.
And every woman who has been subjected to this uncomfortable situation
of belly fat or lower abdominal fat accumulation during her menopausal
years vouches that there is a direct connection between obesity
and menopause symptoms.
Why obesity is linked with menopause symptoms?
It is precisely because of hormones that change levels as the
body reaches its prime. Obesity, in fact can invade the life of
a woman anytime between childhood and adulthood but instances
of higher levels of consistent weight gain occur increasingly
in women when they reach menopause or the peri-menopause age.
Causes
· Menopause symptoms often spark off obesity in a woman
because lifestyle changes occur during this time and when you
add decreased physical activity to this, piling up of pounds become
unavoidable.
· Hormone changes during peri-menopause or menopause often
give rise to mood swings and emotional changes. This is the time
when a woman is most likely to indulge in mindless eating and
reach out for food for comfort. Result? Instant weight gain.
· A leading health journal publication reveals that the
link between obesity and menopause symptoms can be established
the other way round as well. Obesity can strikingly affect the
hormone levels in the body and can bring forth symptoms of menopause
earlier than it is supposed to happen. 'Hot flushes' in younger
obese women is a common symptom, for example.
A healthy, well-balanced diet combined with moderate physical
activity therefore, is the only way to control increasing weight
and disturbing menopausal symptoms, as and when it occurs in women.
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