Women who are obese or smoke cigarettes are more likely to have moderate or severe hot flashes during menopause, according to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The researchers, reporting in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, said women who have excess body fat, as well as those who smoke, have more frequent and more severe episodes of the flashes.

The researchers analyzed questionnaires filled out by more than 1,000 women suffering from hot flashes, who provided information on weight, smoking, diet, and several other lifestyle factors.

Obese women -- those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater -- were twice as likely to be troubled by hot flashes as women with a BMI under 25.

"This study, together with previous reports, suggests that modifiable factors, such as smoking or high BMI, may increase a woman's risk for hot flashes," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: Obstetrics and Gynecology