Menopause & Weight Gain

“Midlife weight gain is mostly related to aging and lifestyle NOT menopause”

In their 40s and 50s, women often gain weight, and they sometimes attribute this gain to menopause. Midlife weight gain appears to be mostly related to aging and lifestyle, but menopause also contributes to the problem.

Studies have demonstrated that the years around menopause are associated with increased fat in the abdominal region, known to increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

It more likely to be the following:

• Behavioral Factors, particularly decreased exercise and increased alcohol and food consumption, are more closely linked to weight gain than menopause.
• Body Shape typically changes with aging—from a “pear” (wide hips and thighs) to an “apple” (wide waist).
• Muscle Decrease. With aging, muscle mass often decreases, while fat often increases. Although this shift may not increase weight (muscle weighs more than fat), body size will go up.
• Metabolism Decrease. Loss of muscle mass also decreases metabolic rate and lowers caloric need, which can lead to weight gain. Conversely, exercising builds muscle mass, which weighs more than fat, so weight might go up—but this is a healthy change.
• Higher body weight may contribute to hot flashes that are more severe at menopause. In general, fewer calories are needed after midlife because less energy is expended. Whether weight gain is linked to menopause itself and/or age, the important thing is that study shows that weight gain around menopause years can be prevented by exercise and diet—by minimizing fat gain and maintaining muscle, thereby reducing body size and burning more calories. Hormone therapy does not cause weight gain in postmenopausal women.

How Can I manage it?

The majority of women in the United States and Canada are overweight at midlife. Any additional weight gain further increases risk for disease, including type-II diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and some cancers. Menopause is an ideal opportunity to focus on weight management strategies. Consultation with a healthcare provider is often advisable. Weight management businesses (such as Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig) can also help.

Again, good lifestyles: diet, exercise, habit can balance your weight and menopause symptoms.

Weight gain during cancer treatment

Although it is more common to lose weight during cancer treatment, some people can gain weight. For example, over half of women experience weight gain during chemotherapy for breast cancer and reports have shown that this weight gain is linked to a poorer prognosis (chance of recovery). This weight gain results from various causes, such as:

• Some types of chemotherapy cause the body to retain excess fluid in cells and tissues (edema).
• Chemotherapy can also increase hunger, especially for high-fat foods, and can trigger intense food cravings.
• It has been shown to decrease metabolism (the rate that energy is used) and, due to therapy-induced fatigue, physical activity is usually decreased.

Other cancer treatments can also affect weight. For example, steroids can cause an increase in fatty tissue, resulting in a large abdomen and fullness in the neck or face. Steroids can also cause loss of muscle mass.

How Can I manage it?

If gaining weight becomes a concern during cancer treatment, consulting healthcare providers is advised before starting a diet or changing eating habits. They can help pinpoint the cause of the weight gain and find the best way to manage it.

It is important to contact healthcare providers right away if there are any signs of fluid retention, such as swelling around the ankles or wrists. There are ways to help manage fluid retention, and ignoring the condition could lead to more serious health effects.

Tagged as: body, Breast Cancer, Exercise, fat, Flashes, Health, Hormone, Hormone therapy, InTense, Lifestyle, Loss, menopause, metabolism, midlife, treatment, way, weight, Weight Management, Women