- Many women gain weight in midlife due to hormonal changes and lifestyle factors.
- Menopausal weight gain can have serious implications for your health such as increasing your risk for disease and illness.
- While losing weight is not easy, it’s not impossible.
- It’s important to work with your doctor, especially before making drastic dietary and exercise changes to your lifestyle.
Have you hit the 40-year milestone and suddenly notice all the other changes (physically and mentally) that come with it? You’re not alone. A lot of women gain weight as they grow older, especially around their midsection. But why is that? And can you stop it from happening?
Today we’re going to take a closer look at weight gain in women and why it typically happens in midlife. We’ll also take a look at a few steps you can take to shed those excess pounds. Let’s get into it!
Why Do Women Gain Fat in Midlife?
So why do many women see a spike in weight gain after 40? The biggest culprit is hormones. Alyssa Dweck, MD, gynecologist and assistant clinical professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine tells Healthline, “As you approach menopause, levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone fluctuate.” When your hormones fluctuate, a variety of changes can develop such as decreased lean muscle mass and bone density, mood changes, decreased libido, and weight gain.
We can’t blame hormones entirely. Lifestyle habits, age, and genetic factors also play a role in weight gain which we’ll dive into a bit deeper next.
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