Gains in body fat are common over the course of midlife and the menopausal transition. To investigate whether these gains might be related to menopausal symptoms, researchers studied 1,659 American women 47 to 59 years old for four years. Every year, they checked women’s hormone levels, percentage of body fat, and frequency of hot flashes and night sweats.

During follow-up, 53 percent of the women showed an increase in body fat – on average, about a half percent. In 24 percent of the women, body fat percentage shrank, while it remained stable for the remaining 23 percent.

The women who gained fat were 1.2 times more likely to report having hot flashes. The relationship remained after they accounted for the women’s hormone levels, but was not significant for night sweats, which could be because it is harder to keep track of night sweats, largely because they happen while one is sleeping.

The researchers noted that fat might worsen hot flashes because it acts as an insulator and makes it harder for the body to get rid of heat. Hot flashes and night sweats may happen because it’s tougher for a woman’s internal thermostat to maintain a steady core body temperature during menopausal hormone shifts.

The researchers recommended women to avoid gaining weight by maintaining a healthy diet and being active to prevent gaining body fat as well as symptoms of hot flashes.

Q: My mother is 65 and she went through menopause nine years ago. For the last few years, she has been feeling extremely warm internally, even when the weather is cool. She is easily agitated but once the sweat breaks out, she experiences a sense of relief.

Is there any reason for this condition?

A: What you have described is suggestive of symptoms related to menopause which include hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes such as irritability, anxiety or depression, palpitations, insomnia, vaginal dryness and fatigue.

These symptoms may start a couple of years before cessation of the menses (the perimenopausal period), and may persist for a few years after menopause. Their likely cause is related to the reduction in the level of female hormones that accompany menopause.

The duration of these symptoms depends on the individual.

In the majority of cases, the symptoms usually last between two and five years. However, some women may experience symptoms for a longer time. A number will experience hot flushes into their 60s.

However, it is also important to be aware of other underlying medical conditions that may show similar symptoms. For example, thyroid disease may lead to sweating, palpitations and irritability.

Sometimes the mood changes may be due to underlying psychological problems like depression.

You may want to take your mother to a doctor to ensure that the symptoms are not due to other conditions.

If the symptoms are mild and tolerable, treatment may not be necessary. Simple measures such as lowering the ambient temperature may help.

Some exercises may also be beneficial. But if the symptoms are severe and affect her daily activities, medication may be needed.

There are different treatment options. Some of these remedies include black cohosh, red clover, evening primrose oil, dietary soya products and vitamin E supplements.

In some cases, the only effective treatment for menopausal symptoms would be hormone replacement therapy.

You should consult a doctor on the risks and benefits of the various treatment options.

Dr Watt Wing Fong

Expert: Dr. Susan Jewell Bio: Dr. Susan Jewell is a trained doctor and scientist in clinical research medicine, as well as a stem cell scientist in oncology and AIDS/HIV. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

The 37.5 percent of women who reported hot flashes and night sweats at the three-month follow-up visit a lower breast cancer recurrence rate than women who didn’t report hot flashes and night sweats (23 percent). The 31.4 percent of women who reported new joint symptoms at the follow-up visit had a 14 percent rate of cancer recurrence, compared to 23 percent for those who didn’t report new joint symptoms.

Hot Flashes, Night Sweats a Good Sign for Breast Cancer Patients – Forbes.com