Frontline: Older Women & Mobility; Moderate Weight Loss’ Effect on Heart Health; Progesterone
Older women need to move more
Many older women spend at least two-thirds of their waking time in a sedentary position, according to a study published in the Dec. 18, 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. To measure their movement, the 7,247 study participants, average age 71, wore an accelerometer—a device that senses movement, speed and direction—during waking hours for seven days. The results revealed that the women spent an average of 65.5 percent of their time (equivalent to 9.7 hours each day) in sedentary (seated) positions, and engaging in little physical movement. The investigators also found that, as age and body mass index increased, so did the total sedentary time and the number of periods of sedentary behavior. Previous research has detailed the benefits of exercise for older adults, suggesting that starting exercise later in life can still significantly improve physical and mental health. Also, previous studies have shown a correlation between a lack of regular physical activity during older age and an increased risk of adverse health outcomes.
Moderate weight loss linked with heart-healthy benefits
Research published Dec. 18, 2013 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that modest weight loss sustained over a two-year period helped overweight or obese women reduce their risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. In the study, women who lost 10 percent or more of their body weight improved almost every measure of factors that affect health risks, including LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, HDL (“good”) cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, glucose, and inflammation markers. Women who had the highest risks at the start of the study experienced the greatest benefits from weight loss. Research-ers said the key to maintaining lower risks was not only to lose weight but also to sustain the weight loss, since many people who lose weight then rebound and regain the weight in subsequent months. Women who can keep the weight off for at least two years are more likely to see longer-term health benefits. If you need help with weight talk with your doctor and ask about a referral to a registered dietitian, who can help you create a successful weight-loss plan based on your preferences and needs.
Progesterone appears safe for short-term treatment of hot flashes
Healthy women in early menopause got relief from hot flashes and had no increase in cardiovascular risks while taking progesterone during a three-month period, according to a study that appeared online Jan. 21, 2014 in the journal PLoS ONE. The drug used in the study was Prometrium, a natural form of the hormone progesterone. Study participants were women in their 50s who had last menstruated between one and 11 years prior. The women were of normal weight, did not have heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes, and did not smoke. The women were assigned to two groups: One took progesterone, and the other took a placebo. After three months, neither group had any significant changes in cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pres-sure, weight, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. One limitation of the study was its short duration; more research is needed to determine what effect progesterone has on a woman’s health if it is taken for a longer period of time.
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