The study, published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neo-natal Nursing, reviews the physiological, psychological and social issues related to obesity and calls for nurses and other healthcare professionals to intervene before obesity leads to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, cancer, osteoarthritis and mental health problems.

"Postmenopausal women stand at a crossroad, facing the possibility of living the remainder of their lives in essentially good health or facing the probable onset of chronic diseases that might have been prevented,” study author Karen E. Dennis, of the University of Central Florida, said in a statement. "By first understanding the health consequences of being overweight, nurses have a unique opportunity to work with women of all ages in fighting obesity."

Dennis pointed out nearly two-thirds of U.S. Women are either clinically overweight or obese. As women are more at risk for being overweight or obese than men, and women are at risk for gaining weight as they age, postmenopausal women are a particularly vulnerable population.