Most women gain weight as they age. To minimise menopausal weight gain, increase physical activity and enjoy a healthy diet. The most profound weight gain in a woman?s life tends to happen during the years leading up to menopause.

The hormonal changes of menopause may make you more likely to gain weight around your abdomen. This is because menopausal women tend to exercise less than other women. In addition, muscle mass naturally diminishes with age; hence your body composition will shift to more fat and less muscle, which slows down the rate at which you burn calories.
Many women notice an increase in belly fat as they get older ? even if they aren?t gaining weight. This is probably due to the decreasing level of estrogen, which appears to influence where fat is distributed in the body.

For many women, genetic factors play a role in weight gain after menopause. Weight gain after menopause can have a serious effect on your health. Excess weight increases the risk of high cholesterol, high BP and type II diabetes. These conditions will increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Excess weight also increases the risk of various types of cancer. There is a direct relationship between sleep, stress and weight gain. Diet and exercise are solutions for reducing weight, but high stress and too little sleep can hinder weight loss even when you are on a diet.

Adequate sleep and stress reduction often results in successful weight loss. Science also shows that genetics plays a role in obesity. Certain illnesses may also lead to obesity or weight gain, such as Cushing?s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome. There is no magic formula for preventing or reversing weight gain after menopause, simply stick to weight-control basics. And the bottom line is? Successful weight loss at any stage of life requires permanent changes in diet and exercise habits.