The human body, like almost everything else, is in a constant state of change. From the moment we are born, we begin to experience different transformations: from the amount of bones our body has to the way our hair and nails grow over periods of time. Other transformations can be seen in our height, weight, and the way our body changes throughout puberty, which, for some, can be one of the most awkward or painful phases in their life. Once we leave puberty and become full-grown adults, we arrive at a stand-by in which we no longer see any notable changes in our body, but for some women, this all changes once they hit their forties or fifties.
Throughout their life, women have to deal with hormone fluctuations due to their period, pregnancy, contraceptives, or any other type of imbalances that can be caused by high stress, insufficient sleep, an unhealthy diet, diabetes, thyroid problems, and other conditions. These imbalances can bring forth a series of side effects that, while not always harmful, can be uncomfortable.
One of those side effects is unexpected weight gain; hormones affect processes like your metabolism, but the imbalance may also be a symptom of underlying conditions such as hypothyroidism and menopause.
At LIMARP®, we offer an integrative treatment program that covers all aspects of your health and our team of doctors, led by Dr. Liza María Pompa González, aims to address any underlying problem that may be causing unexpected weight fluctuations. Menopause affects all women once they reach a certain age and while their experience may differ in intensity or types of symptoms, it’s still an uncomfortable stage in their life. This article will focus on how menopause affects women, why it causes weight gain, and what can be done to treat the side effects that come along with it.
Before we begin, we want to highlight that there are several reasons why your weight may change unexpectedly and we recommend you schedule an appointment with your doctor so that they can determine the exact cause.
Menopause: Stages and Symptoms
Menopause occurs when a woman hasn’t menstruated in twelve consecutive months and can no longer become pregnant naturally. It usually begins between the ages of 45 and 55, but can develop before or after. It causes uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes and weight gain, as well as hot flashes, trouble sleeping, pain during sex, irritability, and in the worst of cases, depression.
These symptoms usually present themselves during the perimenopause stage, which is the transitional bridge between pre-menopause and menopause. This stage typically lasts several years and during this time, the ovaries will slowly stop working and estrogen production will slow down, meaning that fewer eggs will be released. The next stage is menopause, which usually from seven to fourteen years. The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race, and ethnicity[1].
The postmenopausal stage begins once women have gone a whole year without menstruating and it will be the stage she will remain in for the rest of her life. Luckily, the symptoms will have subsided by now and they begin to feel comfortable again. However, other health risks may arise, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
Menopause and Weight Gain
We’ve mentioned various symptoms that may signal menopause and while most of them are very uncomfortable, the one that tends to cause the most inconvenience is the unexpected or rapid weight gain.
In the early part of the perimenopause stage, the ovaries can produce extremely high amounts of estrogen because of the mixed signals between the ovaries, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland[2].
Studies suggest that high estrogen levels may increase fat gain because high estrogen levels are associated with weight gain and higher body fat[3]. Women tend to store fat in their hips and thighs, but this type of fat doesn’t increase disease risk very much, but if they’re already struggling with obesity or other weight-related problems, this can be a difficult transition and they may find it harder to lose the extra weight. Another factor that may contribute to weight gain during perimenopause may be the increased appetite that takes place due to the hormonal imbalances. Ghrelin, which is known as the “hunger hormone”, tends to be significantly higher among perimenopausal women, compared to premenopausal and postmenopausal women[4].
However, during menopause, low estrogen levels promote fat storage in the belly area as visceral fat, which is linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems[5]. Once they enter the postmenopause stage, women can see an increase in their weight because they’re often less active than when they were younger.
How To Keep the Weight Off
There are several ways to stop this unexpected weight gain during menopause and not all of them rely on hormone replacement treatments. Most of them have to do with lifestyle changes, such as exercise routines, healthy diets, and taking up any relaxation method. We recommend that you speak to your doctor to see which option is best for you.
Contact Us to Learn More
If you’re going through menopause and are experiencing unexpected weight gain, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We can help determine the right treatment for you. Contact us online anytime or give us a call at (619) 373-0229.
References
[1] “What Is Menopause?”. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-menopause#:~:text=Menopause%20is%20a%20point%20in,between%20ages%2045%20and%2055. (Accessed July 26th, 2022).
[2] Prior JC. Ovarian aging and the perimenopausal transition: the paradox of endogenous ovarian hyperstimulation. Endocrine. 2005 Apr;26(3):297-300. doi: 10.1385/ENDO:26:3:297. PMID: 16034185.
[3] O’Sullivan AJ. Does oestrogen allow women to store fat more efficiently? A biological advantage for fertility and gestation. Obes Rev. 2009 Mar;10(2):168-77. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2008.00539.x. Epub 2008 Oct 23. PMID: 19021869.
[4] Sowers MR, Wildman RP, Mancuso P, Eyvazzadeh AD, Karvonen-Gutierrez CA, Rillamas-Sun E, Jannausch ML. Change in adipocytokines and ghrelin with menopause. Maturitas. 2008 Feb 20;59(2):149-57. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2007.12.006. Epub 2008 Feb 14. PMID: 18280066; PMCID: PMC2311418.
[5] Mauvais-Jarvis F, Clegg DJ, Hevener AL. The role of estrogens in control of energy balance and glucose homeostasis. Endocr Rev. 2013 Jun;34(3):309-38. doi: 10.1210/er.2012-1055. Epub 2013 Mar 4. PMID: 23460719; PMCID: PMC3660717.