Weight gain during menopause: but why?

Figures from Public Health France shed light on women’s weight gain at the menopause. These show that there is no particular link between the time of menopause and weight gain in women. On the other hand, it is true that women gain weight over the years, on average. 0.43% per year. The initiation of hormone replacement therapy at menopause has no impact (neither positive nor negative) on this weight gain.

On the other hand, the body composition of women does change at menopause :

• the mass skinny decreases sharply after 50 years. In fact, it decreases every year from the age of 20;
• there is a change in the distribution of adipose tissue, with a distribution of fat around theabdomen. Again, in reality, abdominal fat increases year after year from the age of 30!

To conclude, the physiology of women makes them naturally gain weight year after year. At time of menopause, weight gain accelerates with a distribution of fat considered unsightly. It should be noted that not all women are equal at the onset of menopause. While some will not gain an gram, others will gain a lot of weight despite their best efforts.

Why do women gain weight?

The balance calories consumed / calories expended at time T does not explain everything! Although this is of course a key element to take into account in order to understand weight gain, it also has physiological reasons. The decrease in lean mass with age is quite simply linked to the natural aging of cells. This depends on:

• genetic heritage;
• habits throughout life: fatigue, shifted work pace, but also food intake and activities physical.

This is why so many inequalities in women’s weight gain! It has also been shown that negative stress has a direct influence on localized weight gain in the abdomen (buttocks, stomach, hips).

How to limit weight gain?

Even if weight gain is linked to genetic factors or lifestyle components over which women do not always have a control, it is not inevitable! It is possible to act to limit it. This is important and not just for aesthetic reasons. Being overweight promotes the onset of other diseases such as diabetes or thehypertension.

The diet must be adequate. For example, dairy products (especially yogurt) play a favorable role. An intake three times a day is recommended. It is of course the calcium which has a beneficial effect in limiting weight gain in postmenopausal women. Pulses and cereals Wholesalers are also recommended, while processed products and saturated fats should be avoided. Fruits and vegetables can be eaten at will.

It is important to remember that, all studies taken together, it is always a increased physical activity which allows to obtain the most interesting effects, in particular for women with a BMI > 30. Remember that physical activity is not just sport! All activities count: cleaning, shopping, ironing, gardening, walking, and even shopping. Thirty minutes a day is enough to get results on the scale. Endurance activities are particularly recommended.

It would be a shame to wait until menopause to have good eating habits and sufficient physical activity! Indeed, gaining weight and then losing it again is not without consequences for the body. While it is of course better to lose weight if you are overweight, it also leads to a loss of lean mass, i.e. bone mass.