Fat may not make you feel attractive but according to the American Journal of Epidemiology it can contribute to hot flashes.  According to a new report from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, recent research has shown that women with higher body mass indexes and more body fat may actually suffer more hot flashes.

Dr. Rebecca C. Thurston and her team followed 1,659 women 47 to 59 years old for four years. The women who gained fat were 1.23 times as likely to report having hot flashes, the researchers found.

Fat is an estrogen producer which previously led researchers to believe that being over-weight might in fact decrease the incidence of hot flashes.  This report suggests that fat might worsen hot flashes because it acts as an insulator and makes it harder for the body to get rid of heat.

Bottom line remains the same – stay healthy = eat right and exercise to reduce body fat and increase muscle mass.

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