Middle-aged women can avoid the weight gain that often accompanies menopause through increased physical activity and a low-fat, reduced-calorie diet, according to a University of Pittsburgh study.

Researchers say this is the first study to demonstrate prevention of weight gain in healthy, but at-risk, women. Researchers from the university's Graduate School of Public Health presented the results at the 72nd Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association in Atlanta.

These findings are from the Women's Healthy Lifestyle Project, a five-year, randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of a behavioral lifestyle intervention program in preventing increases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the so-called "bad" cholesterol) and weight gain during the peri- to post- menopausal period.

"We know that adults tend to gain an average of a pound a year, most likely due to the effects of aging and decreased physical activity," said Laurey Simkin-Silverman, assistant professor of epidemiology and co-investigator of the study.

"This weight gain, particularly with increases in waist circumference, has major implications for cardiovascular health. But through increased leisure- time, physical activity and a low-fat, reduced-calorie dietary pattern, women in this study had dramatic success in avoiding this middle-age weight gain."