(Rachel MacPherson/ Forbes) — Weight fluctuations over one’s lifetime are common, especially for individuals whose hormonal shifts can affect their weight during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, lactation, perimenopause and menopause. While menopausal weight gain is not guaranteed for everyone, it can be a common concern for those approaching middle age.
When it comes to weight gain and body composition changes during menopause, several factors are at play. If weight gain is a concern, there are ways to manage it and obtain an optimal weight for you. Learn more from experts about menopause weight gain—and how to reduce it—below.
Menopause marks the point at which an individual has not menstruated for 12 months or more, absent of pregnancy or another health condition. The transition leading up to menopause (known as perimenopause) causes changes in hormone production, with decreasing estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels.
As individuals enter perimenopause, these changes in hormones, particularly estrogen, can cause missed or irregular periods and reduced fertility. Periods can be heavier, lighter, longer, shorter and eventually stop when the ovaries do not produce any more eggs. Shifting levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can also cause various symptoms, including mood changes, hot flashes, increased sweating, skin thinning, vaginal dryness and weight gain. (…)