Avoiding Weight Gain During Menopause
Most women who have gone through menopause can testify that it’s not a pleasant time of life. But menopause symptoms aren’t just about mood swings and hot flashes. Whether you’re in perimenopause or full menopause, you can expect to gain some weight. Studies indicate that many women will put on an extra pound each year throughout menopause. Do these issues have anything in common? Let’s find out.
The change in hormone levels that accompany menopause are believed to be a significant factor in weight gain. Nevertheless, there are other things that lead to weight gain in women. Your age and lifestyle are also factors in the changes taking place in your body. Some of the reasons for weight gain are exercising less and eating more. Because of this, your body burns fewer calories because of its reduced physical activity. The composition of your body changes as it builds up more fat and less muscle, a result of a slower metabolism. Genetics is also a factor for weight gain. If your parents are naturally stocky, there is a good chance that you will inherit the same body type.
Since extreme increases in weight can cause health complications, it could compound the symptoms associated with this condition. It’s been demonstrated that women who put on 20 pounds or more following menopause have a 20 percent greater chance of developing breast cancer. But women who lose weight have a better chance of avoiding breast cancer. Those who lose about 20 pounds reduce their risk for breast cancer by 23 percent.
In order to keep from gaining weight and to maintain optimal health during menopause, a nutritious diet and regular exercise are highly recommended. When you exercise regularly, your metabolism remains higher and you burn off more fat on a regular basis. Moreover, muscle mass can be increased through strength training, which further increases your metabolism and builds up your bones as well.
It’s no secret that a nutritious diet is important. However, it has been noted that in order to maintain your weight as you age, your body will need 200 fewer calories a day. This information relates to females in their forties. Once you enter perimenopause, adopting a nutritious eating plan will help you to avoid weight gain later during full menopause.
We should all accept the inevitable changes which will happen to our bodies. If you’re hoping to maintain the body you have now for the rest of your life, don’t hold your breath. We may hate the fact that our bodies will lose the firmness of youth, no matter what we do. But the best approach is to work at controlling the aspects of your health that can be improved.