We quite often receive approaches from women going through the menopause who are beginning to notice a change in their weight and body shape. Most women attribute this to lifestyle but that is not always the case for post-menopausal women. The menopause causes the body to behave differently: a reduction in the production of certain hormones will cause the body to change shape and for the distribution of fat to alter. Many women will notice that their previous pear-shape transforms into an apple-shape.
What can be done? Well, this is a natural part of aging unfortunately but there is no reason to take this lying down. If you are prepared to consider hormone replacement then you should consult your GP in the first instance to get your hormone levels checked. If appropriate, your GP will prescribe a suitable type of HRT (hormone replacement therapy.) HRT can cause side effects so this option needs to be carefully considered.
We would always recommend that you watch your diet, menopause or not. The first thing to avoid is refined sugar. Cut down your sugar consumption and up your intake of fruit and vegetables. A recent study in the US indicated that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables could help post-menopausal women keep weight gain at bay.
It is very important to resist the temptation to go on a crash diet. This action could send the body on famine alert, so it will store more fat in anticipation of a future period of reduced availability of food – this is a deep-rooted survival mechanism.
Up your levels of aerobic exercise! This will help to increase your metabolic rate and reduce the amount of food intake stored as fat.
Our top tip for anyone looking to lose weight is to look at what you drink as well as what you eat. A lot of flavoured drinks (including so-called health drinks) are full of sugar. Avoid flavoured drinks and stick to water.