Physical Activity and Obesity among Premenopausal Women

Women who are approaching or at menopause and are at risk for obesity and heart disease can benefit from increasing their levels of physical activity, according to researchers at Kansas State University. The researchers looked at relationships between physical activity and obesity in 1,004 premenopausal white women. They found that body mass index, percent of body fat and other weight-related measurements were significantly lower among women who engaged in moderate to vigorous regular physical activity. The researchers note that abdominal obesity is strongly associated with development of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among American women, especially in late premenopausal and early postmenopausal periods. "The ability of physical activity to minimize abdominal obesity could be a strong incentive for women approaching menopause to become more physically active," the researchers write.

Possible Dietary Causes of Central and Eastern European "Coronary Disease Epidemic"

Diets low in foods containing folate and carotenoids may be "a major contributing factor" to the high rate of heart disease among both men and women in Central and Eastern Europe, especially compared with people in Western Europe, the United States, Mediterranean nations and Asian countries, according to researchers at Oregon Health and Science University. Folate is found in foods such as orange juice, avocados, spinach and fortified grain products, while apricots, broccoli, carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes are among the sources of carotenoids. The research
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Contact: Kelly Liebbe
media@eatright.org
312-899-4769
American Dietetic Association
30-Nov-2004