Menopause and Weight Gain

Most of the women are affected by weight gain to a certain degree for the duration of menopause. This can seriously be harmful to self-esteem of a woman if not given proper attention because understanding and knowing weight gain at the time of menopause is significant for managing this symptom in an effective way.

One of the primary causes of weight gain in women is the changes in their sedentarism and hormone levels. Studies have revealed that about 90% of menopausal women experience weight gain between the ages 35-55. This is not unexpected because weight gain comes with the territory of menopausal and aging.

Medical experts say that menopause takes place when ovaries of women stop producing estrogen, which is considered to be responsible for menstruation and ovulation. Nowadays most of women who are experiencing menopause undergo weight gain because of hormonal changes brought about by aging. Aside from weight gain, menopause is also responsible for loss of libido or loss of sexual appetite, loss or growth of hair in the face and head and vaginal atrophy.
Weight gain during menopause is as ordinary as aging.

Normally, women sometimes gain about 10-15 pounds beginning from their abdomen, to the thighs, hips and rear. Studies have revealed that weight gain on women generally starts during their pre-menopausal years and will continue to pile-up as they grow older. Those who have experienced menopausal early because of major surgery or operation, they are likely to gain weight faster than those who haven’t.

Due to the changes in their size or weight, many women are starting to dread the thinking of menopausal. Experts say that women should be more conscious when they are entering the stage of menopausal due to which they can get prepared for it.

Physicians say that it should be expected by women that as they are entering into the early stage of menopause, they will find it difficult to maintain their weight due to variation in their hormones. Due to this natural hormone changes which includes estrogen, androgen and testosterone levels because of which women metabolism, appetite and fat storage are largely affected.

The reasons leading to weight gain during menopause are as follows:

• Hormone deficiency slows down the metabolism which leads to excessive weight gain.
• Slow metabolism due to aging.
• Lack of physical activity or exercise.
• The utilization of HRT i.e. hormone replacement therapy is also responsible for weight gain.
• Weight gain can also takes place due to increased food intake because of emotional problems like stress and depression.

The most significant way to get correct treatment for weight gain during menopause is to find out whether the problem is physical or psychological.

There are many ways to control weight gain during menopause, but the most excellent method is to combine therapies like alternative medicine, lifestyle changes and effective exercise program.