Menopause and Weight Gain

Menopause is the decline of reproductive hormones in a women's 50s & is often linked with the increase in weight. This article deals with the scientific correlation of menopause and weight gain.

Introduction

Weight gain at the menopause stage of a woman is prevalent. This occurs due to various factors, which include:

1. Hormones

2. Aging

3. Lifestyle

4. Genetics

The 4 phases of Menopause

Menopause is highly individual. It generally varies from woman to woman. The female reproductive life cycle generally has four periods of hormonal changes during a woman's life.

1. Premenopause: Premenopause is the term that is used for a woman's reproductive life while she's fertile. It generally begins at the puberty stage, starting with the first menstrual period and ending with the last. This phase generally lasts for approximately 30-40 years of a woman.

2. Perimenopause: Perimenopause means a time which is around Menopause. During this time, the estrogen levels become erratic, and the progesterone levels also decline. A woman may start perimenopause at any time between her mid-30s and early 50s, but this transition generally occurs in the 40s, and this lasts for 4–11 years.

The symptoms of the perimenopause stage usually include:

• hot flashes and heat intolerance in the woman.

• menstrual cycle changes

• sleep disturbances

• headaches

• mood changes, such as having irritability

• depression

• anxiety

• weight gain

3. Menopause: Menopause usually occurs once a woman hasn't had a menstrual period for over 12 months. The average age of Menopause is generally 51 years. Up until then, a woman is generally considered perimenopausal. Many women experience their worst symptoms during the perimenopause period, but others find that these symptoms increase in the first year or two after Menopause in a woman.

4. Postmenopause: Postmenopause generally begins immediately after a woman has gone 12 months without having a period. The words menopause and postmenopause are often used interchangeably in a woman. Many physical as well as hormonal changes, continue to occur after Menopause in a woman.

Read More about scientific correlation of menopause and weight gain.