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Why do women in menopause gain weight?
Weight gain is common with age, but it isn’t necessarily universal. And it isn’t caused
by menopause.
Then what does cause it?
As we get older, the hormones that foster muscle build up fade. If you don’t eat less
or intentionally work out more, you gain weight.
So menopause doesn’t mean you’ll gain a lot of weight. Then why do I feel fatter?
Weight gain with age is partially genetic, like the propensity to obesity. The weight
gain is due to non-hormonal factors like the slow loss of muscle mass and failure to work
out longer to burn the same number of calories because we feel tired.
I’ve gained maybe five pounds, but my stomach has gotten huge.
Menopause occurs when estrogen levels drop off. A woman’s hormone profile starts to
look like that of an older man, with fat accumulating in the abdomen.
A beer belly? I don’t even drink beer.
The International Menopause Society found that menopause causes fat to shift from the
hips to the stomach.
My hips don’t feel any smaller.
The bad thing about fat in the abdomen is –
The muffin top look.
I was going to say that it increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
What can I do?
You can cut that risk in half by walking at least an hour a day. Half an hour of hard
cardiovascular exercise also helps.
And I’ll lose the fat?
That, and lower the risk of all kinds of complications, too.
I really don’t want to start looking like my husband, in addition to looking old.
Don’t worry. Unless he gets so fat he grows man ***.
Then he’s going to workout, too. Misery loves company, and this I can say is for our
own good.