Changing exercise habits during the change of life

Menopause study examines ways to encourage women to view exercise as both enjoyable and necessary

For the last 17 years, Rush University Medical Center has been conducting a long-term menopause study called WISH: Women in the Southside Health project.. Researchers discovered that menopause can be one of the causes of increased belly fat and initially increases a women's chances for heart disease and diabetes. So to solve this, they launched a fitness program called WISHFIT to get women exercising. Dawn Trice describes their struggles to find ways to motivate women and encourage them, not to lose weight, but focus on an overall healthier lifestyle. Mary Pat Kull and Donna Cullar are both women participating in the program, each of them attempting to overcome their bad habits. They have tried to exercise in the past, but explain that after a couple months it would slowly come to a stop. However, they have benefitted because of WISHFIT and are now on the road to a better life, healthier and with the reduction of symptoms that naturally come with menopause.