Women taking hormone therapy for menopause have less belly fat: Study

A new study has found women taking hormone therapy for menopause have less belly fat, the Daily Mail reported.

Treatments like hormone replacement therapies are usually intended to relieve symptoms like night sweats, mood swings and hot flashes. It is believed to strengthen women's bones and reduce risk of heart disease and bowel cancer.

Now a new Swiss study has discovered it can help with weight gain issues. However, the study also warns the effects don't last and vanish when the woman stops taking it.

Women who experience menopause can expect to gain close to five lbs during and 10 lbs after. Of course aging also plays a role. Hormonal changes cause fat to shift to the abdomen area for women.

Fat around this area increases risk of diabetes and heart disease. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the study suggests can counteract the collection of belly fat.

"What this adds to the discussion is the pros and cons of starting hormone therapy, including the fact that it protects against weight gain that we see after menopause,' for non-obese women between 50 and 60," lead study author Dr Georgios Papadakis told the Daily Mail.

Adding,"We should try to warn women that they should try to work on the lifestyle [changes]' like better diets and more exercise, 'and not rely on the hormones in order to not gain back the weight."

The Endocrine Society originally published the study’s findings.