Weight control

It is not inevitable that women will put on weight at the menopause, but many do.

This is in part due to a decline in muscle mass and a subsequent slow-down in the basal metabolic rate, without reducing the amount of food and alcohol and while taking little or no exercise.

Women should be advised to:

• eat a healthy diet
• exercise regularly; start slowly and gradually increase
• lose extra weight slowly and steadily. Psychological aspects Depression, anxiety, tiredness, loss of concentration and memory problems are all common experiences during or after the menopause. To help these aspects, note that:
• regular mental stimulation seems to maintain cognitive ability
• regular exercise can make sleeping easier
• a balanced diet will ensure an adequate intake of essential minerals and vitamins
• social activity improves mental function
• Concentration can be improved with crosswords, puzzles, quizzes etc.
• learning new skills or languages improves mental function
• Moderating alcohol intake is important for good memory

Tagged as: diet, Exercise, increase, little, Loss, problems, start, vitamins, weight, Women