Health Tips

Women gain weight in perimenopause – especially around their waist and hips—even if they are dieting. Why does this happen? The culprit is the link between hormonal balance and body fat. One link is between insulin metabolism and body fat. Many people eat foods that are high in carbohydrates such as processed foods (pasta, breads, most snacks, beer, wine etc.) Eventually this type of diet can create a condition known as insulin resistance. When your body becomes resistant to insulin it will convert every calorie into fat – even if you’re dieting and doing what you can to keep the weight off. Insulin resistance will not allow you to burn fat when you exercise.

Another link is between stress and body fat. Stress hormones block weight loss. Even if you’re eating adequately, your body will interpret stress as a famine. Your body thinks it’s necessary to store every spare calorie as fat. Many of us combine a high carbohydrate diet with a high stress lifestyle, which doubles the chances of weight gain.

Another cause of weight gain is estrogen loss. As the estrogen production of your ovaries decreases, your body turns to secondary production sites such as body fat, skin, and other organs. If your body is having difficulty maintaining its hormonal balance, body fat becomes more important.

There are several other causes for weight gain during middle age. One is reduced physical activity. Menopausal women tend to exercise less than other women, which can lead to weight gain. Increased food intake is another cause of weight gain. Eating more will mean you’ll take in more calories which are converted to fat if you don’t burn them for energy. Another reason for weight gain is a slowing metabolism. The number of calories you need for energy decreases as your metabolism slows and the amount of muscle you have also decreases. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so if you have less muscle you will burn fewer calories. Genetics can also play a role in your weight gain. You might be predisposed to weight gain as you age so you will have to work harder through exercise and diet to maintain your figure.

Complications of Weight Gain during Perimenopause

Weight gain can have a serious impact on your health. Excess weight can increase your risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance (which can lead to type 2 diabetes), and more. These factors can all contribute to a risk of heart disease which is one of the leading causes of death for women.

What You Can Do to Prevent Weight Gain

If you’ve noticed the extra pounds or even if you want to prevent weight-gain in the future you can deal with it by taking steps to eat a varied diet and increase your daily exercise. As far as exercise goes, it’s important to incorporate both aerobic and strength training exercise into your routine. Aerobic exercises are good for your heart and strength training exercises will help you increase your muscle mass, raise your metabolism and strengthen your bones. Your diet should be varied and packed with fruits and vegetables. You’ll need about 200 to 400 fewer calories at this time because your metabolism slows. You should only eat when you are hungry and then only enough to satiate your hunger.

Here’s a quick reference list of the major causes of weight gain during perimenopause and menopause and ways to deal with it;

* Decreased activity compared to younger days
* A slow metabolism due to decreased physical activity
* Eating too much food or eating too many processed foods
* A poor diet history of pasta, breads, processed and pre- packaged foods, fast foods, high-fat meats and sugars
* Thyroid dysfunctions, which can occur due to hormone imbalance and estrogen dominance
* Exercise more to build muscle mass, boost the metabolism and burn calories.
* Eat less food than the body burns.
* Develop a healthy perimenopause treatment regime free of synthetic chemicals that also includes a high-quality progesterone cream.

Don’t accept weight gain as an inevitable part of mid life. With simple exercise, diet and lifestyle changes the problem can be fixed. Women should come together and create networks and support groups to help each other out during this stressful time. It’s easier to deal with something when you know other women are experiencing it too.