Menopause and weight gain. It seems that these two things always go hand in hand for many women. Gaining some weight after menopause is not entirely uncommon. Menopause causes women to experience many distressing symptoms, like hot flashes, mood disorders, sleep disturbances, and more.
Obesity is considered to be one of the most important disturbances related to menopause. 65% of women between the age of 40 and 65 in the US are obese.
Gaining too much weight is linked with multiple health risks, like hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Unfortunately, most women going through menopause will experience different menopausal symptoms, including weight gain. It is important to be proactive and take measures to control your weight after menopause.
This post will discuss menopause, subsequent weight gain, and how you can control menopausal weight gain.
Table of Contents
Why Can Women Gain Weight After Menopause?
Various reasons can be attributed to menopausal weight gain. The onset of this stage in a woman’s life is accompanied by several bodily changes. A change in hormone levels, primarily estrogen, may have an impact on body fat distribution.
Many women in perimenopause and early postmenopause years may gain more fat as their estrogen levels decrease. Other factors contributing to weight gain at or after menopause include age-related metabolic changes and reduced physical activity as women age.
How Does Exercise Help With Weight Gain After Menopause?
The more exercise you get, the less weight you are likely to gain at any stage of your life. People who exercise more are naturally more inclined to have thinner waistlines than people who do not exercise.
Exercising while you are in the process of losing weight can be effective in helping you reach your weight loss goals. Maintaining a good physical exercise regimen after losing weight can help you maintain a healthier weight.
5 Ways to Beat Menopausal Weight Gain
Your estrogen levels begin to decline before, during, and after menopause, slowing down your metabolism and making it more challenging for you to lose weight, especially around your waist. Here are a few ways to beat menopausal weight gain.
1. Exercise more often and with greater intensity
Many women who exercised regularly before menopause might experience menopausal weight gain. With a slower metabolic rate, it is harder for your body to lose weight as effectively. Increasing the frequency and intensity of your workouts can make a significant impact in helping you lose the extra belly fat caused by menopause.
You don’t need to be exercising like you were in your 20s, but you need to redefine your normal workout regime to make it more effective for losing weight.
2. Keep your food portions in check
Whether it is due to age or just because of menopause, your metabolism slows down as you get older. Ensuring that you control the number of calories you consume can help you keep your weight under control.
Cutting back on unhealthy meals is a must. The time and frequency of your meals can also make a major difference in maintaining your weight. Controlling the portions you eat can help you control menopausal weight gain.
3. Time your meals and snacks to avoid mindless eating
Weight gain does not happen just because of what and how much you eat. When you eat your meals can also make a difference. Eating a lot of food late in the evening or at night is never good for you if you want to stop your body from gaining too much weight.
Paying attention to when you eat and how much you eat can help you keep your weight under control. Try incorporating snacking strategies to keep your calories in check. Eating more earlier in the day and reducing your portions for meals later in the day can help you control your weight gain.
4. Consult with your doctor to mitigate menopause symptoms
If your lack of estrogen is also contributing to severe menopausal symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes, and mood disorders, you may want to consider consulting with your doctor to seek treatments to reduce these symptoms.
Hormone Therapy (HT) is considered to be an effective method to treat menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. However, it is necessary to consult with a qualified medical professional who can recommend ideal treatments to mitigate the symptoms. Your doctor will also be better equipped to investigate whether your weight gain is related to menopause or some other health condition.
5. Consider using a medically assisted weight loss program
Considering professional help to lose the excess weight you have gained after menopause is nothing to be ashamed of. Gaining too much weight carries several health risks that can be made worse by menopausal symptoms.
Working with weight-loss experts to find an effective plan to lose the extra weight can be crucial in ensuring that you can keep your weight under control and live a healthier and happier life.
A Medically Assisted Method to Help Control Your Weight
At UnCraveRx, we can provide you with a medically assisted weight loss program that may help you find an effective solution to control your menopausal weight gain and curb your cravings for unhealthy foods to get your diet on the right track. People spend billions each year on weight-loss products and dealing with obesity-related illnesses.
Our medically assisted weight loss treatments are tailored to your unique requirements to get you effective and long-lasting results. Contact us to find out how we can provide you with the assistance you need.