MENOPAUSE AND WEIGHT GAIN
Middle age is a time that both men and women tend to put on some extra pounds and many people that have previously been able to stay slim and fit with little effort, suddenly discover they are now prone to weight gain. When woman reach the age of menopause from 45- 55 they often notice a softening of the tissue particularly around the middle and they start to put on tummy fat and also weight on the thighs and the upper arms. Menopausal women have hormone levels very different from younger women, and this change in hormones causes the metabolism to slow down considerably.
Weight gain during menopause is actually dangerous to the general health of the woman and should be kept in check for this reason alone. There are several diseases that can result from mid life weight gain, like heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, breast cancer, kidney disease and insulin resistance.
On average, women gain between 12 to 15 pounds between the ages of 45 and 55 due to hormones fluctuating, preparing for the permanent lower levels for the years to come. The hormones that are involved in menopause are estrogen, progesterone, androgen and testosterone. Each hormone has its own part to play in this weight gain.
ESTROGEN
Estrogen is not only produced in the ovaries but also in other places in the body such as the fat cells. When a woman’s ovary estrogen levels drop, the body actually tries to make more fat cells so that there is a store of estrogen to use. Weight gain is inevitable because the body finds it hard to burn the calories in the fat cells. In order to reduce this extra fat some additional exercise is necessary along with daily tummy crunches, until the hormones stabilize.
PROGESTERONE
Progesterone is another hormone that is reduced during menopause, the shortage of which causes the body to retain fluid causing bloating and puffiness. Even without noticeable weight gain, clothes will seem tighter due to fluid retention.
ANDROGEN
Androgen is a hormone that increases at the onset of menopause and it subsequently causes women to put on weight around the middle and is the source of the phrase “middle aged spread”.
TESTOSTERONE
Lowered testosterone levels also are a result of menopause and cause the metabolic rate to slow down also causing weight gain, because less fat is burned in the muscles and the fat cells.
INSULIN RESISTANCE
Insulin resistance can be a result of menopause causing diabetes that requires treatment for the remainder of the person’s life. The body turns all the calories into fat and the body can become resistant to the body’s natural insulin, causing diabetes.