I probably shouldn't be happy to hear this, but I am.  Being overweight has at least one benefit - it may reduce your risk of experiencing hot flashes during menopause.


There are many hypotheses on why hot flashes occur and the best ways to combat them.  What no one disputes is that 75% to 80% of women experience hot flashes during menopause. Mild flashes last a few minutes, severe ones can last up to 30 minutes and be followed by a chilled feeling.  These hot flashes can impact a woman's quality of life in many ways, both at work and at home.

Diets high in fiber and low in fat are recommended to lower the incidence of hot flashes.  B vitamins,  vitamin C,  magnesium and potassium, can be depleted during hot flashes, so taking supplements of these nutrients can be helpful. Soy has been suggested as a preventative due to the phytoestrogens contained in soy.

But overall, it appears that thinner women may have a higher incidence of hot flashes.  This is because hormones secreted by the adrenals are converted into estrogen by fat cells.  So having a few fat cells on hand is not a bad idea.

So if anyone asks, that hot fudge sundae I had for dessert was simply medicinal.