The Facts

• Weight gain during menopause is usually caused by a number of factors. These include exercising less, eating more and burning fewer calories. Women who are menopausal may also gain weight due to hereditary factors. If their family members tend to gain weight easily and carry it around their stomach, they are more likely to as well.
  
  

Time Frame

• For most women, menopause usually occurs between their early forties and late fifties. It is a process that takes several years to complete. Before menopause even begins, women go through perimenopause, which is a pre-menopausal state. It is at this time that many women begin to realize that they are not able to maintain their weight as easily as in the past. As menopause progresses and eventually ends, women find that losing weight is more difficult than it was before starting menopause.
  
  

Effects

• Weight gain during menopause usually accumulates around a woman's abdominal region rather than her hips and thighs. Most women gain 10 to 15 pounds as they go through menopause. This weight gain is due to the fluctuating levels of estrogen, progesterone, androgen and testosterone in a woman's body during menopause, which impact energy level, appetite and metabolism. Insulin resistance and stress are also issues contributing to an increase in weight during menopause.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• For numerous women, a change in lifestyle habits is crucial to keeping the weight off during menopause. Many women find that altering their diet to include healthy food such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats helps them maintain a healthy weight. Participating in activities that increase the heart rate and build muscle mass are beneficial in maintaining a healthy weight before, during and after menopause. Hormonal therapy may be another option a woman wishes to speak to her physician about to control the effects of menopause.
  
  

Warning

• Weight gain can seriously affect a woman's health and cause major diseases and conditions. These include heart disease, stroke, joint problems, diabetes and high cholesterol. Women who gain more than 20 pounds after going through menopause are also more likely to develop breast cancer. This is due to the fact that fat produces higher levels of estrogen in the body, which has been linked to breast cancer. In order to decrease the likelihood of developing breast cancer after menopause, a woman should maintain a healthy weight and avoid gaining more than 20 pounds.