A Matter of Balance May '99 Feature Few choices in life are as important as those women make about their health. Yet it is only recently that women's health has found its rightful place in the national conversation. Without enough estrogen, young girls don't build the bone mass they need to protect them from osteoporosis later in life. On the other hand, the consequences of obesity can be equally as devastating. Each year, about 150,000 women die from diseases directly related to obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
Obesity also plays a prominent role in hypertension, osteoarthritis and immune dysfunction.
Remember even a small weight loss can have significant health benefits. It also helps prevent Type II diabetes, which is the kind of diabetes that occurs with age and overweight. The biggest benefit most women can relate to best is that exercise makes you feel good. Remember, the most dramatic health improvement occurs when women make that first move toward a more active lifestyle. Plant foods also contain phytochemicals, which act as antioxidants while others mimic the hormone estrogen.