Weight gain that leads to obesity is not a normal part of aging and can bring about many health complications. It's important for women to understand the dangers associated with weight gain after menopause, in order to take measures to reverse or prevent weight gain.
Midlife Obesity and Health Risks
Obesity during midlife can increase your morbidity, according to a study conducted jointly by the American Cancer Institute and the American Association for Retired Persons or AARP. Summarized in the August 24, 2006, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the results show conclusively that being overweight during midlife, which for women occurs after menopause, can cause in increased death risk.
Post-Menopausal Breast Cancer
Weight gain after menopause can increase your chance for breast cancer, according to Harvard Medical School. Likewise, losing weight after menopause can reduce this risk. Summarized in the July 12, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, results indicate weight gain at this age may be associated with hormones directly related to breast cancer development.
Weight Loss
Although it's unclear whether the transition to menopause is responsible for weight gain and obesity in women, doctors know that menopause-related estrogen loss increases the risk for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. According to researchers at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem, treatment of postmenopausal obesity is simple yet challenging and requires a healthy diet together with regular exercise.
Protein and Bone Loss
Postmenopausal obese women following a high-protein diet must also monitor bone loss, according to Purdue University Researcher and Professor Wayne W. Campbell. Published in the September 2010 Journal of Gerontology: Medical Science, Campbell's research indicates that older women on a high-protein weight loss plan lost bone mineral density faster than women on normal protein diets. Women susceptible to osteoporosis should pay particular concern to these findings.
References
- National Cancer Institute: New Study Shows That Being Overweight at Middle Age Can Be Harmful
- National Cancer Institute: Weight Gain Increases Risk of Breast Cancer After Menopause
- Purdue University: Study: Higher-Protein Diets Support Weight Loss, but May Lower Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women
- PubMed.gov: Diet and Lifestyle in Managing Postmenopausal Obesity
