“Research has confirmed
menopause is linked to an increase in belly fat
but not an increase in overall weight”.1

Umbrella
What may the Alcohol Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopause Weight Gain
  • Middle Age Spread
  • Midlife Weight Gain

Menopause

Does menopause cause weight gain?

In Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated: So Does Menopause Cause Weight Gain?, 12 March 2023, the author explains:

“The short answer is no. But it’s complicated.

When it comes to menopause and weight, it’s weight redistribution – not weight gain – that is actually a symptom. Research has confirmed menopause is linked to an increase in belly fat but not an increase in overall weight”.2

Weight Gain

How much weight may women put on as they enter menopause?

In Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated: So Does Menopause Cause Weight Gain?, the author also notes:

“Women commonly put on weight as they enter menopause. Research shows women aged 46-57 gain an average of 2.1kg over five years”.3

Menopause Weight Gain

In Looking After Yourself: Healthy Weight the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“Women tend to gain weight as they age, whether they are experiencing menopause or not. On average, women between the ages of 45 and 55 years gain about half a kilo per year”.4

Cause

If menopause does not cause weight gain, what does?

In Looking After Yourself: Healthy Weight the JH also note:

“Many women think weight gain is part of menopause, but it’s more likely due to ageing and associated lifestyle changes.

Ageing causes a decrease in muscle mass, which slows down your metabolism. So, if your diet stays the same, you are likely to gain weight”.5

Look for A Pattern

How may I Look for A Pattern with weight gain during menopause?Menopause Weight Gain Pattern

One way to Look for A Pattern with weight gain during menopause is to keep a food diary. In Improving Your Eating Habits: Reflect the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include a Food Diary and elaborate on:

  • “Create a list of your eating and drinking habits. Keep a food and beverage diary for a few days. Write down everything you eat and drink, including sugary drinks and alcohol. Write down the time of day you ate or drank the item. This will help you uncover your habits. For example, you might discover that you always seek a sweet snack to get you through the mid-afternoon energy slump. Use this diary [PDF-105KB] to help. It’s good to note how you were feeling when you decided to eat, especially if you were eating when not hungry. Were you tired? Stressed out?”.6

Hormone Therapy

Is there an association between hormone therapy (HT) and weight gain?

In Hormone Replacement Therapy: Side Effects – Weight Gain and HRT the (United Kingdom) NHS note:

“Many women believe that taking HRT will make them put on weight, but there’s no evidence to support this claim.

You may gain some weight during the menopause, but this often happens regardless of whether you take HRT”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help to Look for A Pattern with my weight gain?

If you would like help to Look for A Pattern with your weight gain, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can identify any patterns, discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

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Sources

  1. Fuller, N. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated: So Does Menopause Cause Weight Gain? 12 March 2023. https://theconversation.com/is-menopause-making-me-put-on-weight-no-but-its-complicated-198308 Accessed: 16 June 2023
  2. Fuller, N. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated: So Does Menopause Cause Weight Gain? 12 March 2023. https://theconversation.com/is-menopause-making-me-put-on-weight-no-but-its-complicated-198308 Accessed: 16 June 2023
  3. Fuller, N. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated: So Does Menopause Cause Weight Gain? 12 March 2023. https://theconversation.com/is-menopause-making-me-put-on-weight-no-but-its-complicated-198308 Accessed: 16 June 2023
  4. Looking After Yourself: Healthy Weight. Last Updated: 08 June 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself#healthy-weight Accessed: 16 June 2023
  5. Looking After Yourself: Healthy Weight. Last Updated: 08 June 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself#healthy-weight Accessed: 16 June 2023
  6. In Improving Your Eating Habits: Reflect. Last Reviewed: 03 June 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/eating_habits.html Accessed: 16 June 2023
  7. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects – Weight Gain and HRT. Last Reviewed: 09 September 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/side-effects/#weight-gain-and-hrt Accessed: 16 June 2023
Topic Last Updated: 16 June 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 16 June 2023

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