WHI analysis suggests weight loss may reduce hot flashes

Article

Weight loss and a healthy diet may improve more than just a woman’s waistline. A low-fat diet reduced postmenopausal women’s hot flashes and night sweats in a study reported online by Menopause.

  • Weight loss ≥10% helped postmenopausal symptoms

  • Dietary changes alone had less impact on VMS

Weight loss and a healthy diet may improve more than just a woman’s waistline. A low-fat diet reduced postmenopausal women’s hot flashes and night sweats in a study reported online by Menopause.

At the start of the Women’s Health Initiative Dietary Modification trial, vasomotor symptoms (VMS) were reported by about one-quarter of the 17,473 participating postmenopausal US women ages 50 to 79 years who were not using hormonal therapy. Most women in the study were overweight. Of those with VMS, 6% had moderately severe symptoms and 1% had severe symptoms.

Participants were assigned randomly to a yearlong program of reduced fat intake; increased fruit, vegetable, and whole grain consumption; and a behavior modification program of group sessions and nutritional consultation. Weight loss was not a goal of the program, but 21% of the diet group and 7% of the control group lost weight during the year. Women in the diet group lost an average of 4 to 5 lb.

After adjustment for variables, women with VMS in the diet program were 14% more likely than the control group to have elimination of symptoms; those who lost ≥10% of their body weight were 30% more likely (P=.04, P=.001). Of all women with VMS, those who lost ≥10 lb or ≥10% of their body weight were significantly more likely to experience resolution of symptoms than those with no weight loss (P=.008, P<.001).

Although participation in the diet program had no effect on moderate to severe VMS, weight loss >22 lb in either group was related to elimination of such symptoms.

Read other articles in this issue of Special Delivery

Related Videos
Shocking maternal health findings from 2023 March of Dimes report card | Image Credit: marchofdimes.org
The importance of maternal vaccination | Image Credit: nfid.org.
Expert on OAB
Expert on OAB
How to address sexual dysfunction during menopause | Image Credit: health.usnews.com
Hot flashes poorly impact sleep quality | Image Credit: intimmedicine.com
Experts on OAB
Expert on OAB
Expert on OAB
Related Content
© 2023 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.