Menopause And Weight Gain

If you talk to most women over the age of 50, you'll quickly find that menopause and weight gain are linked in their experience. It is very common to gain weight at this time and although this may be due in part to lifestyle changes, it doesn't explain why we suddenly develop a tendency to gain weight in different parts of the body, especially the abdomen, when all the weight gained when we were younger tended to be centered on the hips.

The truth is that hormonal changes have a role to play in this, although the process is not completely understood. At menopause, a woman stops ovulating, her monthly periods end and her body produces much lower levels of estrogen, a female hormone responsible for the ovulation process. Low estrogen levels have been shown to cause weight gain in animals and this is almost certainly the reason why our bodies change shape. While women of childbearing age store fat in the lower body, after menopause they store it more on the abdomen, like men. This leads to a greater risk of heart disease.

At the same time, both men and women tend to see muscle turn into fat as they age, and the metabolism slows down. This means that if you don't adjust your eating habits, you will probably find that your weight increases. A 60-year-old simply doesn't need as many calories as a 40-year-old.

Hormonal treatment with estrogen is sometimes prescribed to control menopausal symptoms. Many women will be surprised to learn that studies have shown that hormone therapy does not cause weight gain. Some women experience bloating and fluid retention in the early stages of hormone therapy, but this is usually temporary and they have not gained any fat. Hormone therapy can reduce the risk of heart disease by preventing changes in the storage of body fat around the abdomen and lowering cholesterol. However, hormone therapy has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in some studies.

If you find that you are gaining weight during menopause, there are several things you can do.

- Eat a healthy, low-fat, high-fibre diet, avoiding sugar.

- Exercise regularly. As people age, their level of physical activity naturally decreases. Work often becomes less physically demanding, there are no children to chase, we take less active vacations and do things more slowly. 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day will help balance this effect.

- Maintain your strength and muscle mass. Use weights for your arm muscles and walk or bike for your legs.

- Accept changes in the shape of your body. If you're not overweight, but just have a thicker waist and thinner legs, that's fine.

Consult your doctor before starting any exercise program if you have any health problems or are in poor physical condition. Your doctor can also help you with menopausal symptoms and weight gain.

 Menopause and weight gain