MENOPAUSE AND WEIGHT GAIN
About 90% of all menopausal women gain weight between the ages of 35 and 55.4 It seems like no matter what we do, maintaining a healthy weight becomes more difficult and loosing the extra middle-aged spread can seem almost impossible. The fluctuations of hormones along with other factors such as aging and lifestyle have a substantial impact on our overall weight and health.
Our body’s hormones have a direct impact on our appetite, metabolism, and fat storage.4 Estrogen, testosterone, and androgen are the key hormones that have an affect on overall weight gain.4
• Estrogen: During menopause, a woman’s ovaries produce less estrogen and her body attempts to find the hormone in places other than the ovaries. Fat cells can produce estrogen, so her body works harder to convert calories into fat to increase estrogen levels. Unfortunately, fat cells don’t burn calories the way muscle cells do, which causes weight gain. 1
• Testosterone: Helps your body to create lean muscle mass out of the calories that you take in. Muscle cells burn more calories than fat cells do, increasing your metabolism. In natural menopause, levels of testosterone drop resulting in the loss of this muscle. Unfortunately, this means a lower metabolism. The lower your metabolism is, the slower your body burns calories.4
• Androgen: The amount of this hormone increases at the onset of menopause. It’s responsible for sending new weight to the mid-section instead of the hips. This contributes to the dreaded “spare tire” or the “middle-aged spread”. 1
The onset of Menopause is the perfect time for you to take charge of your health. By changing your food choices, caloric intake, and activity level, you can prevent unwanted weight gain.
• Increase your physical activity: Aerobic exercise boosts your metabolism and helps you burn fat. Strength training exercises increase muscle mass, boost your metabolism and strengthen your bones. 3
• Reduce calories: Portion control is the key to reducing calories. Go for smaller helpings of protein and fats, balanced by larger servings of vegetables, grains, whole foods and fruit. Cut the junk, focus on the fresh.6
Women across the world are battling weight gain as result of the onset of menopause. The women of GEM™ believe that it’s never too late to make healthy changes. Menopause is a new beginning, and the perfect time to weave more activity into your life.2 GEM™ Keep it cool provides all-natural menopause relief and helps restore you bodies natural balance. Get your quality of life back with GEM™.
P.S.
We also suggest removing the candy bowls around the office!
1 Weight Gain During Menopause. http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/weight-gain.htm viewed on November 11, 2009.
2 Menopause Health Center slide show. www.webMD.com/menopause
Viewed on November 12, 2009
3 Weight gain after menopause by Mayo Clinic Staff. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/menopause- weight-gain/HQ01076/METHOD=print. Viewed on November 11, 2009
4 Menopause and Weight Gain. http://www.epigee.org/menopause/weight_gain.html viewed on November 12, 2009.
5 The Latest on Nutrition and Menopause by Amy Scholten, MPH. http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token Viewed on November 5, 2009
6 Healthy Menopause Diet. http://www.healthy-eating-made-easy.com/menopause-diet.html Viewed on November 9, 2009..