Weight Gain Menopause

Menopause And Weight Gain

As a woman’s body begins to decrease in production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, the body changes in many ways.  Additional hormones, such as androgens begin to increase, resulting in many symptoms.  The most noticeable symptom of menopause is irregular or decreased periods until complete cessation occurs. 

Other symptoms include vaginal dryness, tightness, and increased risk of infections, hot flashes, anxiety, depression and mood swings, changes in the appearance and thickness of the hair, and feeling a decrease of fullness in the breast.  Also, many women notice an increase of five to ten pounds in their weight.  Abdominal fat increases causing many women to become anxious regarding their weight gain. 

Menopause is a time to take a close look at your nutrition. If you are greatly concerned about the symptoms of menopause, including weight gain, then speak to your health care provider.  He or she can recommend herbal as well as prescription medication to help alleviate the symptoms. 

It’s also important to realize that some of the weight gain associate with menopause results from retaining water.  A healthy diet, cutting back on excess salt, and drinking plenty of water can help the body become regulated and help with water retention. 

Hormones And Weight Gain

Hormones are directly connected to the way a woman gains weight.  During a woman’s fertile years, she tends to gain weight in the hip and thigh area.  Once her hormones begin decrease in production, her weight patterns change. 

Weight distribution after menopause accumulates around the stomach and can total much more than 5-10 pounds.  Some women also find that their new appearance triggers depression and anxiety which leads to overeating, causing more weight gain.  Menopause is a very emotionally challenging time and many women turn to comfort foods for support.

In addition to a healthy diet there are other steps that women can take to prevent weight gain.  Menopause is a time where women tend to become depressed, and might feel more sluggish.  Increasing activity levels is important and can help speed up metabolism. 

Tips To Control Weight Gain

The three areas to concentrate on are how much you’re eating, what you’re eating, and how active you are.  It’s also important to consider how much sleep you are getting each night, as a lack of sleep will slow down your metabolism and cause you to gain more weight. 

Speak to your health care provider if you are considering using any weight loss remedies as well.  It is always best to take a natural, safe approach to weight loss, even when going through menopause.  Be sure to discuss natural, herbal products with your health care provider as well, since these can also directly affect your hormones. 

Though many of the most troubling symptoms include weight gain, menopause doesn’t need to be a terrible time filled with anxiety.  By working with your health care provider, you can find remedies that will help you ease through this time of your life without great discomfort.