<p>A study in the <a href="https://www.nature.com/ijo/" target="_blank">International Journal of Obesity</a> tracked 158 healthy premenopausal women, 43 and older, for four years. The researchers found that women who became menopausal were getting half as much physical activity as they had in the four years prior to menopause. And while everyone in the study added visceral belly fat, post-menopausal women added the most.</p><h3>Risks of Post-Menopausal Belly Fat</h3><p>That belly fat, accumulating around your internal organs and boosting body-wide inflammation, ups your risk for diabetes, <a href="https://www.doctoroz.com/health/8-heart-healthy-habits-for-women" target="_blank">heart disease</a>, <a href="https://www.doctoroz.com/health/alzheimers/" target="_blank">dementia</a>, and colorectal and breast cancer — not to mention <a href="https://www.doctoroz.com/depression-signs-help-friend" target="_blank">depression</a>, a decreased sex life and digestive woes. </p><h3>How to Finally Get Rid of It</h3><p>What can you do about it? A lot. <a href="https://www.doctoroz.com/fitness/" target="_blank">You can rebuild muscle mass </a>with 20-30 minutes of resistance and strength training two to three times a week and get 150+ minutes of high-intensity interval cardio exercise weekly, which stokes your metabolism. <a href="https://www.doctoroz.com/diet-nutrition/" target="_blank">And you can upgrade your diet</a> by eliminating ultra-processed foods, enriched flours, partially hydrogenated oils, and saturated and trans fats. That reduces fat-storing inflammation.</p><div class="horizontal-rule"></div><h3>The Best Way to Stay Motivated While Exercising at Home</h3>
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