Menopause weight gain is a common occurrence that affects nearly every woman at some point in their life. As your body ages you may begin to metabolize food at a slower rate and your lifestyle may not be as active as it once was. There are some simple ways that you can fight this middle age spread, however.
Diet and Exercise
Aging, and menopause, are both linked to changes in the body. Changes in hormones and a drop in your natural muscle mass makes it harder to eat the same foods as you once did without gaining weight. As your muscle mass begins to drop during menopause weight gain begins to become more common. Fat doesn’t burn the same amount of calories as muscle, making it necessary to eat a healthier diet to maintain your current weight. Processed foods and foods high in fat should be replaced with healthier options.
You can also increase your activity levels to fight menopause weight gain. Even though you may have a current exercise plan the changes in your body can make it less effective. Adding in an additional few minutes of exercise can make a big difference, especially if your other levels of activity have dropped. Women in their fifties are often dealing with total menopause and must make changes in their lifestyle to avoid gaining weight. If you aren’t seeing results from a healthy lifestyle and increased activity then it may be time to speak to your doctor.
Factors that Influence Weight Gain
Menopause weight gain usually begins when you notice extra weight on your abdomen. This change in your body shape may be from genetics or from other lifestyle factors. Your hormones also play a big part in the weight gain that you are experiencing. Prior to menopause the hormones estrogen and testosterone are both present. As your body enters menopause the balance of these hormones shift since you are no longer ovulating. All of these changes will affect your ability to maintain your current weight.
More serious issues can also be linked to menopause weight gain. Insulin resistance is a condition that occurs when your body doesn’t process the sugars that you eat as well as it once did and the condition is also a precursor to Diabetes Type 2. Weight gain can also be caused by water retention that may be noticeable in areas other than your abdomen. The extremities, such as the ankles and hands, can give you a sign of water retention since they may swell with water retention. There are treatment options for both of these conditions.
Reasons to Stay Healthy
Menopause weight gain isn’t something that you should just accept. Increased weight can be linked to heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Even slight weight gain can increase your risk of these diseases. A healthy lifestyle is the best option for treating weight gain but if all else fails then you will want to talk to your doctor to see if there are treatable causes for the extra weight.
