Women at risk of developing metabolic syndrome may prevent the onset of subsequent conditions like diabetes and hypertension, by adhering to lifestyle interventions, according to a recent study.
Published in the journal Menopause, the study was conducted by analyzing data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Over 10,000 women in mid to late-adulthood participated in the study.
The findings showed a correlation between menopause and a heightened risk of metabolic syndrome among the female participants. Lifestyle interventions were found to be the most effective at curving away from the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“Age at menopause and hormone therapy use have also been identified as possible modifiers of this relationship, although additional studies are required to better quantify their effect,” the study’s co-authors wrote in a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) news release.
“These results reaffirm the previously identified link between menopause and metabolic syndrome. Given the increased cardiovascular risk associated with metabolic syndrome and that heart disease remains the number one killer of women, this study highlights the importance of cardiovascular risk assessment and risk reduction strategies in midlife women,” concluded the organization’s top medical director.
