Lifestyle And Diet Can Help Through Menopause

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There has been a great deal of controversy about hormonal treatments for menopause and, with so much concern over hormones, many people are concerned about ways to reduce the symptoms.

Now comes news that lifestyle changes such as weight loss and low-fat diets can help.

This, according to a report in the journal Menopause, that looked at over 17,000 postmenopausal women ages 50-79 who ate various diets and followed them for one year.

Those women who lost either ten pounds or more than 10% of their original weight were more likely to report improvement of their symptoms. Women who ate a lowfat diet were also more likely to report improvement.

Clearly lifestyle can play a major role.