What is the Connection Between Menopause and Weight Gain?
It is an uncontested truth that menopausal women are known to suddenly gain weight - some gain a lot while some manage to hold it in control. Why does this happen? What is the connection between menopause and weight gain? Or better phrased, is there a connection between menopause and weight gain?
Blame it All on the Hormones
Yes, the culprits for this problem as with all other problems during menopause lie with the hormones. During puberty, there is a sudden spurt of hormones in the blood causing a different type of trouble. During menopause, this is the opposite. There is a sudden decline of hormones in the blood for which a host of unpleasant symptoms develop.
There are many reasons why women start gaining weight when they are menopausal. The first and foremost is indeed due to the lower production of hormones which slows the metabolism down resulting in fat deposits. This is one of the reasons for gaining weight which also explains the connection between menopause and weight gain clearly. However, there is more to it than hormones.
Menopause occurs when you reach 45 - 55 years of age. This is a time when you too, have slowed down quite a lot. Whether you are a working woman or a home maker, you would find at this time that you tire easily and look forward to food more than ever before. Lack of exercise and increased appetite would also contribute to weight gain - this time owing to aging.
Aging symptoms are, fatigue, restlessness, sudden craving for food, sedentary life style and so on. All this contributes to weight gain as well and though it happens at the time when you would be entering menopause, it is not entirely a menopause and weight gain connection.
Depression is another reason why you would invite sudden weight gain. This is because depression usually manifests itself through sudden craving for sweet or fattening foods or continuous eating which results in weight gain. Depression is often caused by the fluctuation of hormones and the best treatment for this would be HRT (hormone replacement therapy).
As you can see, there is a definite connection between menopause and weight gain, though this is not the only cause. It is important to keep in mind that menopause is a transition period which if handled correctly, would not be too bothersome. Beware of the symptoms of menopause so you can treat these with the right measures - medicines, exercise and healthy diet. In this way, you would be able to reduce if not eliminate completely the threat of weight gain during the menopausal stage.
