Why Women Gain Weight at Menopause without Eating More

Experts in obesity research have met at an international Conference in Bangkok, and discussed, amongst other things, why women gain weight at menopause without actually eating more. According to an Australian specialist who summarized the results of the discussions, it’s all due to a simple but probably unexpected factor: women at menopause exhibit a dramatic and sudden reduction in physical activity levels. In fact, just prior to menopause, this reduction may amount to half their activity at premenopause levels.

Clearly, if this reduced activity is combined with continuation of existing eating habits, weight gain is inevitable. Why does activity lessen? It’s not because of age or lifestyle constraints. Most probably it’s related to the lack of estrogen, which influences the messages the brain sends to the body.

More importantly, women who maintain or increase their activity level during menopause emerge the other end without gaining weight.

The above represents a summary of the discussions at the meeting. It doesn’t provide the actual data that we’d like to see before subscribing to the explanations given. Nevertheless, it makes sense for menopausal women to try to maintain a high level of physical activity at a time when weight loss is common; and lowering the calorie intake can’t harm, either!