by Kim Allarie

Most women who have gone through menopause can testify that it’s not a pleasant time of life. But menopause symptoms aren’t just about mood swings and hot flashes. Weight gain is a common result of both perimenopause and menopause. Studies indicate that many women will put on an extra pound each year throughout menopause. Are the two situations really interrelated? Let’s find out.

The change in hormone levels that accompany menopause are believed to be a significant factor in weight gain. Nevertheless, there are other things that lead to weight gain in women. Your age and lifestyle are also factors in the changes taking place in your body. The causes of weight gain are largely because of a less active lifestyle and eating too much. And so you burn fewer calories because you’re less active. Your body composition alters as the ratio shifts to less muscle and more fat because of metabolic slowdown. Genetics is also a factor for weight gain. If you come from a long line of stocky people, chances are good that you’ll be the same.

Since extreme increases in weight can cause health complications, it could compound the symptoms associated with this condition. It’s been demonstrated that women who put on 20 pounds or more following menopause have a 20 percent greater chance of developing breast cancer. But women who lose weight have a better chance of avoiding breast cancer. Those who lose about 20 pounds reduce their risk for breast cancer by 23 percent.

In order to keep from gaining weight and to maintain optimal health during menopause, a nutritious diet and regular exercise are highly recommended. When you exercise regularly, your metabolism remains higher and you burn off more fat on a regular basis. Moreover, muscle mass can be increased through strength training, which further increases your metabolism and builds up your bones as well.

It’s no secret that a nutritious diet is important. But it’s common knowledge that you need to consume 200 less calories each day just to keep your weight where it is. This fact applies to women who are in their 40’s. Once you enter perimenopause, adopting a nutritious eating plan will help you to avoid weight gain later during full menopause.

We need to make peace with the changes that are bound to take place with our bodies. If you think that your body will stay like it is right now, think again. We may hate the fact that our bodies will lose the firmness of youth, no matter what we do. However, the most effective approach is to concentrate on improving whatever aspects of your health that you are able to.

About the Author:
Do you think you might be starting menopause? If so, you need to know what the symptoms are how to treat them. Visit the Menopause Symptoms site for the advice you need.