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BMI & Menopause Symptoms |
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Question: I was told that even though my weight was responsible for my menopause symptoms. I know I am overweight with a high “Body Mass Index” (BMI), but I thought hot flushes were less frequent in overweight women because our extra weight makes estrogen. I am confused. Please explain. |
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Quick Answer: |
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Though
BMI is only one of many factors that influence hormonal symptoms, an elevated
BMI is associated with increased frequency and severity of hot flashes, loss of
sexual interest and sleep disorders. An
elevated BMI is also associated with many health risks; such as heart disease
and insulin resistance, but this page will focus on BMI & menopause
symptoms. |
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Every
once in a while, popular ideas, or myths, prevail even though science and
research has shown the idea to not be true. Now would be a good time to
review the research on BMI &
menopause symptoms, because there are going to be many questions about
this. An
elevated BMI (more than 30) is associated with an increased frequency and
severity for moderate to severe hot flashes compared to women with low BMI
(less than 24.9)1, 2.The association of hot flashes with increased
body mass (BMI) challenges the current "thin" hypothesis and raises
important questions about the role of BMI in hormone dynamics in the
menopause years.3 Elevated
BMI has also been associated with the loss of sexual interest4. as well as sleep disorders such as sleep apnea (extended
periods of not breathing during sleep)5,6. Sleep apnea is
associated with fatigue disorders and increased risk for cardiovascular
disease. |
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Summary |
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In addition to the increased risk of disease associated
with elevated BMI, an elevated BMI is directly related to menopause symptoms.
In this regard, an elevated BMI has a direct affect on current quality of
life. |
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References: |
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1) Whiteman MK, Staropoli
CA, Langenberg PW, McCarter RJ, Kjerulff
KH, Flaws JA. Smoking, body mass, and hot flashes in midlife women. Obstet
Gynecol. 2003 Feb;101(2):264-72. 2) Wilbur J, Miller AM, Montgomery A, Chandler P. Sociodemographic characteristics, biological factors, and
symptom reporting in midlife women. Menopause. 1998 Spring;5(1):43-51. 3) Freeman EW, Sammel
MD, Grisso JA, Battistini
M, Garcia-Espagna B, Hollander L. Hot flashes in
the late reproductive years: risk factors for Africa American and Caucasian
women. J Womens Health Gend Based Med.
2001 Jan-Feb;10(1):67-76. 4) Malacara JM, Canto de
Cetina T, Bassol S,
Gonzalez N, Cacique L, Vera-Ramirez ML, Nava LE. Symptoms at pre- and
postmenopause in rural and urban women from three States of Mexico. Maturitas.
2002 Sep 30;43(1):11-9. 5) Polo-Kantola P, Rauhala E, Saaresranta T, Aittokallio T, Erkkola R, Polo
O. Climacteric vasomotor symptoms do not predict nocturnal breathing
abnormalities in postmenopausal women. Maturitas. 2001 Jul
25;39(1):29-37. 6) Resta O, Caratozzolo G, Pannacciulli N, Stefano A, Giliberti T, Carpagnano GE, De Pergola G. Gender, age and menopause effects on the prevalence and the characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea in obesity. Eur J Clin Invest. 2003 Dec;33(12):1084-9. |
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Last Updated: 042504 |
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YourMenopauseType.com, Inc. |
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