Menopause And Weight Gain

Speaking with most women over 50yrs you will find out that most of them experience weight gain at menopause. It is very common to put on weight at this time while some of the weight gain may be due to lifestyle changes.

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

Men and women tend to find muscle turning to fat as they grow older, and the metabolism slows down. This means that you have to adjust your eating habits to avoid gaining excess weight. A person of 60 just does not need as many calories as a person of 40 and below.

If you are gaining weight at menopause, the following tips may be of help in taking care of the excess weight.

- Eat a healthy, low fat diet with plenty of fiber, avoiding sugar. Simply put eat healthy.

- Get regular exercise. As people get older their physical activity levels naturally drop. Work often becomes less physically demanding, there are no kids to run around after, and we take less active holidays and do things more slowly. 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day will help balance the effect of this.

- Maintain muscle strength and mass. Use weights for arm muscles and walking or cycling for legs.

- Accept the changes to the shape of your body. If you are not overweight, but simply have a thicker waist and slimmer legs, see it as a necessary change that has to do with nature and your age.

It is advised that you consult your doctor before starting any exercise program if you have any medical conditions or your fitness levels are low. Your doctor can also help with symptoms of the menopause and weight gain.