Understanding Menopause and Weight Gain

Women who are in their 40s and 50s usually have one complaint. Menopause seems to be synonymous with weight gain. Women who are in their menopausal stage find it hard to control their weight. What makes it worse for them is the fact that the weight accumulates more on the abdomen and not on the hips and thighs.

Weight gain is one of the drastic changes caused by menopause that never fail to shock women. They start to think that maintaining their weight is a hopeless endeavor because despite exercise and a balanced diet, they still gain extra pounds each day.

Here women must realize that this is a natural phenomenon and the extra weight is due to change in the hormonal levels of the body. Hormones that are most affected during this process are- estrogen, progesterone, androgen and testosterone.

Also, change in lifestyle is another reason for weight gain. Menopausal women often reduce the amount of exercise they do in comparison to their younger life and thus it leads to accumulation of fats in the body.

These women also tend to increase their caloric intake, thus making them heavier and bigger. Last but not the least, genetic factors also partly cause weight gain during menopause.

Women should fully understand the relation between menopause and weight gain. They should also be more disciplined and careful with their health. If you are one of these women having the same problem then these guidelines are for you.

A balanced diet will greatly help in maintaining your weight. You must avoid sugar and junk foods.

Say no to crash diets. It is a lie when people say crash diets will help in losing weight. It will not help you lose weight; instead it will just cause more harm.

Losing weight in a short amount of time can lead to osteoporosis. You must understand that weight loss should be balanced and carried out gradually.

Avoid food and drinks that are not good for your body like sugar, junk foods, and those containing alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.

Exercise regularly. Regular exercise will help combat your weight problem. Aerobic exercises will be good for you because it helps burn excessive fats and also speeds up your metabolism. Weight bearing activities and simple exercises like walking, running, swimming or riding a bicycle can help you lose weight.