Maintaining a healthy weight after menopause

Menopausal women tend to gain weight, especially around the abdomen. This weight gain can be problematic not only in terms of self-esteem, but also to the woman’s health: overweight individuals have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer (such as colon or breast cancer).

This weight gain isn’t actually a direct result of menopause. Rather, it is due to a combination of genetic predisposition, aging, and lifestyle factors. For example, muscle mass tends to decrease with age, while fat increases. Since muscles burn a lot of calories, you have to compensate for that loss by either reducing the number of calories you consume or increasing your level of physical activity… otherwise you will gain weight.

The hormonal changes that occur at menopause also have an impact on where the excess fat develops. After menopause, weight tends to accumulate around the waist rather than on the hips and thighs.

What can you do to prevent or reduce menopausal weight gain? As always, you must ensure a balance between your diet (the number of calories you consume) and your level of physical activity (the number of calories you burn).

Aging should never be an excuse for physical inactivity. The important thing is to choose an activity that is both fun and adapted to your physical abilities.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/womens-health/in-depth/menopause-weight-gain/art-20046058