Do women gain weight after menopause?

Many women believe that they will gain weight after menopause, but in fact there is no specific age limit for female obesity. However, many women will experience great physiological changes after menopause, and their body hormones will also change, so sometimes they will suddenly gain weight for no apparent reason.

1. There is no special age limit for female obesity. Not only are women prone to obesity during pregnancy, lactation, and adolescence, but menopause is also a critical period for obesity. During this period, obesity is not only the enemy of bodybuilding, but also the enemy of health and longevity. Post-menopausal women experience a new physiological transition, with hormonal changes triggering updates in many areas. Many of these women no longer have their periods, but gain weight inexplicably, and are more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Some people do not know the reason and often just try to reduce their food intake, which causes a lot of trouble and the effect is naturally not ideal.

2. There are many reasons for women to become obese after menopause, and they all have special causes. We know that the functions of estrogen are very extensive. In addition to maintaining normal female secondary sexual characteristics, it also participates in the metabolism of sugar and fat. When estrogen secretion decreases, the metabolism and distribution of sugar and fat also undergo quite obvious changes. Medical experts analyzed and studied the characteristics of abdominal fat tissue and found a significant difference: the basal blood sugar level after menopause is higher than that before menopause, the plasma insulin level after menopause is also higher than that before menopause, and the glucose tolerance is reduced; in terms of fat distribution, the area of ​​subcutaneous fat tissue in the abdomen of premenopausal women increases significantly, and the area of ​​visceral fat tissue in the abdomen of postmenopausal women increases significantly.

3. The direct cause of this result is related to the decrease in estrogen levels. This phenomenon can explain the increase in the incidence of diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. The same conclusion can be drawn through clinical observation. Supplementing estrogen to postmenopausal women can lower blood sugar, lower insulin levels, improve glucose tolerance, and reduce the occurrence of related diseases.

4. Another new theory about obesity is the genetic theory. Researchers at the Held Hughes Medical School at Rockefeller University in New York, USA, reported that the human body has a gene that stops eating. This gene sends a protein-based message to the brain, alerting the brain that the body has stored enough fat and sending a signal to stop eating. If this signal is lacking, appetite will still increase and obesity caused by overeating will occur. This discovery may eventually show who is most likely to become obese. It may also help some obese people restore their self-esteem so that others no longer think that their obesity is caused by laziness, gluttony, unscientific diet and lack of will to lose weight. In addition, obesity in postmenopausal women is also related to factors such as changes in lifestyle habits and reduced activity. Menopause coincides with the approaching retirement age. Some people improve their nutritional level, but only pursue high taste without paying attention to scientific combinations, and only pursue comfort and enjoyment without increasing physical activities. As a result, obesity becomes worse day by day.