Women who are approaching or at menopause and are at risk for obesity and heart disease can benefit from increasing their levels of physical activity, according to researchers at Kansas State University.

The researchers looked at relationships between physical activity and obesity in 1,004 premenopausal white women.

They found that body mass index, percent of body fat and other weight-related measurements were significantly lower among women who engaged in moderate to vigorous regular physical activity.

The researchers note that abdominal obesity is strongly associated with development of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among American women, especially in late premenopausal and early postmenopausal periods.

"The ability of physical activity to minimize abdominal obesity could be a strong incentive for women approaching menopause to become more physically active," the researchers write.

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American Dietetic Association

Highlights of the December Journal of the American Dietetic Association

The December 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association contains articles and research studies you may find of interest. For more information or to receive a faxed copy of a Journal article, e-mail media@eatright.org.

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

With nearly 70,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Based in Chicago, ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. Visit ADA at http://www.eatright.org.