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Menopause can cause you to gain weight. Find out why this is and what you can do about it
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Hormonal and physical changes during the menopause make many women more likely to gain weight. This can often be a demoralising experience that leads to many encounters with fad diets and other quick fixes. However, our menopause expert Eileen Durward endeavours to explain why drastic dieting is not always the answer and what can be done.
After the age of 40, the human body is susceptible to gaining, on average, one pound a year. When women reach the menopause, this average weight gain is likely to increase because of hormonal and physical changes which take place at this time. Many women feel self-conscious about this and attempt to crash diet to counteract the effect. However, these actions do not tend to be effective as eating too much is not usually the cause of weight gain during the menopause.
Many people feel that the weight they gain during the menopause is more noticeable because it tends to accumulate in one area of the body rather than be distributed evenly across the body. The most common place for weight to accumulate is around the tummy and this can be difficult to shift once there.
The hormonal fluctuations you encounter as you enter the menopause means that your body deals with the food you consume in a different way, all too often resulting in weight gain. Your metabolism (the rate at which you burn off calories) reduces, which means that you store more calories than you will burn. This is only made worse if you are spending less and less time on the go or exercising.
When you go through the menopause, particularly if you are feeling somewhat stressed, the production of the hormone cortisol will increase. When your cortisol levels are high you are more likely to develop fat around the middle.
Most women try to counteract the weight gain at home, and if this is done correctly can be the most effective means of preventing the weight from building up.
- Be careful with your diet – what you eat is going to have a significant impact on your weight. Eat a healthy balanced diet containing plenty of protein, low starch vegetables and fruit which don’t have a high quantity of sugar, such as pears and berries. Drastic dieting is unlikely to get you anywhere, as the chances of putting the weight you lost and more back on are fairly high. It is not good for your body. Maintaining a healthy diet is a more effective and healthier option
- Keep your muscles toned - muscle is more effective at burning calories than fat. When you go through the menopause, your muscle mass naturally decreases, causing you to gain weight. Keeping your muscles toned is more effective at keeping the weight off than crash dieting
- Exercise – be honest with yourself about how much exercise you are really doing each day, especially in comparison with when you were 20 or 30 years younger. Exercise is the most effective way of burning calories with swimming, cycling or walking being among the most beneficial.
It is important to remember that any remedy cannot remove weight for you – it can only be an aid together with a calorie controlled diet.
Kelp has been used for many years to help improve the metabolism and as an aid to weight loss. It is rich in minerals, especially iodine, which is important for normal production of thyroid hormones in your body. This in turn encourages your body to burn up the food you eat, giving you more energy.
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If you are really struggling to control your weight and have not found that home and herbal remedies are helping, it is important to seek medical attention. While your doctor may be reluctant to prescribe diet pills on the basis that it is the menopause causing you to put on weight, he will be able to work with you to find a solution.
It is important to remember that weight gain can have a serious impact on your lifestyle and health. Weight gain or difficulty losing weight are also symptoms of an underlying health condition such as low thyroid function, which will need to be treated by a doctor.
If you are worried about your condition or fear that it is causing you to have further health problems such as heart disease, then it is vital to seek medical attention.
A.Vogel Menopause Support tablets with Soy Isoflavones, Magnesium and Hibiscus for all stages of menopause
Menopause Support can be used to help you through all stages of the menopause.
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21 Comments
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Colleen olivier — 09.03.2021 18:09
Hi
I would like to try the kelp tablet however I am nervous as I'm worried it will cause thyroid problems. Will kelp manage the hot flushes, sleep, moods and weight gain? Look forward to hearing from you.
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eileen — 17.03.2021 14:03
Hi Colleen
Kelp tablets are a natural source of iodine which contributes to the normal production of thyroid hormones and is known to help with the metabolism and weight control.
For flushes and sweats we usually recommend sage tablets.
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Emma fox — 07.10.2017 08:33
Can you advise me what can help with menopause and weight gain please
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Mandy — 22.08.2017 02:30
I would like to try Avogel
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Mandy — 22.08.2017 02:28
I would like to try
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louise — 17.08.2017 21:27
1st heavier after eighteen months parcial hysterectomy why
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Eileen — 18.08.2017 09:27
Hiya, With this kind of operation most women will get the menopause at roughly the same time they would have done had they not had the operation. Weight gain and low energy are common symptoms in the menopause, as the hormonal shift is so demanding on the body. Make sure that you are drinking plenty of plain water through out the day and try Molkosan Original to kick start your day. You may find books on the Low GL Diet or the Paleo Diet or the SIRT Diet helpful.
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Carol Hush — 07.07.2017 20:55
My weight gain and craving for sweet food is getting me down. I am walking kilometres every day with my young dog, low energy and mood. Usually at this time of year I have endless energy but not this summer :-(
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Eileen — 10.07.2017 15:03
Hello Carol, Weight gain and low energy are common symptoms in the menopause, as the hormonal shift is so demanding on the body. You may find books on the Low GL Diet or the Paleo Diet or the SIRT Diet helpful. For sweet cravings check out a Chromium supplement from a health food shop near you and a magnesium supplement can help your symptoms too.
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Helen — 03.07.2017 12:10
Hi my weight gain is really getting me down I eat healthy and exercise twice a week plus walk my dog everyday and work 12 hr shifts
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eileen — 04.07.2017 07:35
Hi Helen
Unfortunately, the usual methods of dieting such as going on a low fat, calorie counting diet and doing lots of exercise doesn't work in the menopause and can often cause weight gain instead! In the menopause your nervous system (adrenals) are brought into play and will cause almost constant ‘flight or fight’ responses. So if you cut calories and go low fat the body thinks there is a famine and will slow down your metabolism. The same with exercise, the more you do the more the body thinks it is losing energy reserves so it will store as much food as it can as fat! If you add in 12 hour shifts of work this will stress the nervous system even further.
The secret in the menopause is to eat enough calories for your intended weight needs, cut carbs but increase good fats and protein, this fools the body into thinking there is plenty so will keep your metabolism running well. Exercise needs to be hard and swift, if you are fit enough, such as HIIT, to fool the body into thinking there is no energy loss threat.
It is very hard, when you get to the menopause, having to rethink how you manage your weight as we have been almost brainwashed into thinking low calorie, low fat diets with lots of exercise will help! You may find books on the Low GL Diet or the Paleo Diet or the SIRT Diet helpful.
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julie williams — 21.06.2017 19:33
would like to try this
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Julie Williams — 21.06.2017 19:31
I have tried the menopause support but due to weight gain would like to try and introduce the Kelp
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eileen — 22.06.2017 12:13
Hi Julie
It is fine to add in the kelp with the Menopause Support. Weight gain in the menopause is really common, if you have no other health issues you may find going on a low carb diet helpful but make sure that you are getting plenty of fresh veg, good protein and healthy fats!
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eileen — 22.06.2017 12:13
Hi Julie
It is fine to add in the kelp with the Menopause Support. Weight gain in the menopause is really common, if you have no other health issues you may find going on a low carb diet helpful but make sure that you are getting plenty of fresh veg, good protein and healthy fats!
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Susan Fox — 21.06.2017 09:51
Did not receive pack and I see others didn't either.
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eileen — 22.06.2017 12:13
Hi Susan
Sorry to hear that you have not received your pack, there has been a huge demand! If you have still not received it by now please email kirsty@bioforce.co.uk with your full name and address and she will get a replacement out for you.
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Maria — 28.05.2017 20:45
Thank you for beimg there to support us through this nightmare
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eileen — 30.05.2017 12:39
Hi Maria
You're welcome, glad to be of help!
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Carole — 03.05.2017 14:39
Thank you for the information. Helps us to understand how we can feel different from one day to the next and unlike time of the month where you can judge your moods, with the menopause you cannot
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eileen — 03.05.2017 15:42
Hi Carole
You're welcome!
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