Weight Loss May Mitigate Symptoms of Menopause

Hitting middle age can be a crazy ride for a lot of women. You have to contend with hot flashes, extra weight gain, and for some women, bladder control problems.

Fortunately, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates the cure for incontinence may be as simple as losing a few pounds.

According to the study, obese women involved in a six-month weight loss program reported half as many leakage episodes as before. The women lost an average of 17 pounds, but they experienced a 47% reduction in the number ofweekly incontinence episodes – and, let’s face it, when it comes to incontinence, a 47% decrease is no mere drop in the bucket.

Previous studies have shown that obesity can be a risk factor for bladder control problems, likely because the increased weight puts more pressure on the bladder . The study authors note that losing even a little weight decreases that pressure – and will probably help lower your dry cleaning bill, too.