If you are a woman that wants to lose weight, there are a few things you need to know. First, women that are overweight have an increased risk of developing many different health problems. These include diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. The best way to avoid these problems is to learn about the healthiest ways to lose weight.
Increase in BMI during the menopause transition
Menopause is a transition in which women experience a loss of lean muscle tissue and gain fat mass. This has been associated with an increase in cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. However, few studies have studied the association between menopause and metabolic health. In a new study, researchers attempted to address this question.
The study included 4,441 women who were typically overweight. A majority of the participants were white. They were between the ages of 47 and 64. During the study, participants were followed for an average of 16 years. During this time, 903 women developed heart failure.
Researchers used a variety of measurements to investigate the relationship between menopause and metabolic health. These include blood pressure, body adiposity, and serum lipids. Women also had to answer questionnaires regarding physical and psychological factors.
Researchers found that menopause was associated with an increased risk of abdominal obesity. This increase was not associated with the age at menopause.
Increase in waist circumference during menopause
An increase in waist circumference during menopause for healthy women has been reported in many studies. Menopause causes a significant decrease in lean muscle tissue and increases fat distribution, particularly in the abdomen. Women gain weight during this period, primarily due to changes in estrogen levels. This excess weight is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and is linked to physical morbidity. However, there are few long-term studies that look at metabolic health during and around menopause.
One of the objectives of this study was to evaluate midlife weight gain in women with different menopausal status. These findings are relevant to the management of menopausal symptoms and could help identify new strategies to prevent weight gain in women at midlife.
Longitudinal studies have found that midlife obesity is a result of age and hormonal changes during menopause. Moreover, obesity is associated with a heightened risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Inflammatory status affects lipid and insulin response to weight loss
Inflammation plays an important role in obesity-linked metabolic dysfunction. It is implicated in chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Although the etiology of these disorders is poorly understood, obesity is a risk factor for these diseases. Fortunately, there are strategies to reduce the risk of these conditions. One of these is lifestyle changes. Here, we review the influence of inflammation on lipid and insulin response to weight loss in healthy women.
The development of obesity progresses along with the expansion of subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) and visceral AT. During this period, myocytes become more inflamed and produce more proinflammatory cytokines. This may negatively affect myocyte metabolic function. However, the etiology of myocyte insulin resistance is not fully understood.
Inflammation is also associated with the development of prediabetes, a condition characterized by reduced insulin sensitivity. A small number of clinical trials have indicated that diet-induced atherogenic lipoprotein lowering is affected by low-grade inflammation.
Exercise improves a woman’s overall health
In addition to its physical benefits, exercise can also improve a woman’s overall health. It counteracts the hormonally triggered mood swings that can lead to depression.
According to researchers, exercise can also help women manage anxiety. One in three Australian women suffer from anxiety in their lifetime. Regular exercise is a good way to control anxiety symptoms and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Getting into the habit of exercising regularly is important for a woman’s mental and physical health. The benefits of exercise include better sleep, increased self-esteem, and lowered cholesterol.
Many women struggle to find time to work out. They have children to care for, paid work, and household duties.
Fortunately, many community centres offer a wide variety of exercise classes. Contact your local council for more information. Adding a training partner can also motivate you.
Getting into a routine can also improve the way a woman looks. Regular exercise can increase lean muscle mass, helping women to lose weight.
