Postmenopausal women can dance their way to better health

Date:
July 28, 2021
Source:
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS)
Summary:
Women often struggle with managing their weight and other health
risk factors, such as high cholesterol, once they transition through
menopause. A new study suggests that dancing may effectively lower
cholesterol levels, improve fitness and body composition and in
the process, improve self-esteem.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Women often struggle with managing their weight and other health
risk factors, such as high cholesterol, once they transition through
menopause. A new study suggests that dancing may effectively lower
cholesterol levels, improve fitness and body composition and in the
process, improve self-esteem. Study results are published online today
in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).


========================================================================== After menopause, women are more likely to experience weight gain, overall/ central body adiposity increases, and metabolic disturbances, such as
increases in triglycerides and bad cholesterol. Together, these changes ultimately increase cardiovascular risk. Around this same time, women
often are less physically active, which translates into reductions in
lean mass and an increased risk of falls and fractures. As a result of all these changes, postmenopausal women often suffer from decreased self-image
and self-esteem, which are directly related to overall mental health.

Physical activity has been shown to minimize some of the many
health problems associated with menopause. The effect of dancing,
specifically, has already been investigated with regard to how it
improves body composition and functional fitness. Few studies, however,
have investigated the effects of dance on body image, self-esteem,
and physical fitness together in postmenopausal women.

This new study was designed to analyze the effects of dance practice
on body composition, metabolic profile, functional fitness, and self-image/self-esteem in postmenopausal women. Although the sample
size was small, the study suggested some credible benefits of a three-times-weekly dance regimen in improving not only the lipid profile
and functional fitness of postmenopausal women but also self-image
and self-esteem.

Dance therapy is seen as an attractive option because it is a pleasant
activity with low associated costs and low risk of injury for its practitioners.

Additional confirmed benefits of regular dancing include improvement
in balance, postural control, gait, strength, and overall physical
performance.

All of these benefits may contribute to a woman's ability to maintain
an independent, high-quality lifestyle throughout her lifespan.

Study results are published in the article "Dance practice modifies
functional fitness, lipid profile, and self-image in postmenopausal
women." "This study highlights the feasibility of a simple intervention,
such as a dance class three times weekly, for improving not only
fitness and metabolic profile but also self-image and self-esteem in postmenopausal women. In addition to these benefits, women also probably enjoyed a sense of comradery from the shared experience of learning
something new," says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, NAMS medical director.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by The_North_American_Menopause_Society_(NAMS). Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Giovana Rampazzo Teixeira, Allice Santos Cruz Veras, Ana Paula
Rodrigues
Rocha, Sylvia Seidinger Chedid, Ismael Forte Freitas Ju'nior, Raul
Anto^nio Fragoso Neto, Luis Alberto Gobbo, Camila Buonani. Dance
practice modifies functional fitness, lipid profile, and self-image
in postmenopausal women. Menopause, 2021; Publish Ahead of Print
DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001818 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210728105640.htm

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