Weight gain, usually thought of as an inevitable byproduct of menopause, doesn’t have happen, according to a new study. Focusing on long-term weight loss rather than a short-term solution also helps.
Women who cut back on sugary drinks and desserts had the most success in losing weight, said researchers at the University of Pittsburgh. Cutting back on meats and cheeses also helped, as did increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables.
"If the goal is to decrease the burden of obesity, the focus must be on long-term strategies because changes in eating behaviors only associated with short-term weight loss are likely ineffective and/or not sustainable," Bethany Barone Gibbs, PhD and co-authors wrote in “The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.”
The women who focused on a healthy diet maintained their new weight for at least four years, according to the study.
Although the study indicated a link between a healthy diet and post-menopausal weight loss and maintenance, the authors cautioned that the subjects in the study self-reported their eating habits and that there were no statistics about snacking between meals. The six-month study also began in one season and ended with another, and seasonal changes may have had something to do with the results, the experts said.
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