Insights into why women gain weight in middle age

Insights into why women gain weight in middle age

Weight gain is a common complaint of midlife women, with more than two-thirds of midlife women in the United States being above the ideal weight threshold. Aging-related metabolic changes promote weight gain in both sexes, but women face additional challenges due to menopause. A presentation at the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) annual meeting, Oct. 12-15 in Atlanta, will discuss the effects of age and menopause and strategies for weight control.

It's a simple fact of life: the human body's metabolic rate decreases with age due to a loss of muscle mass and reduced activity in brown adipose tissue. Sleep disturbances and mood disorders, possibly related to the menopausal transition, may further interfere with the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and further promote weight gain. Loss of ovarian hormones after menopause results in altered body composition with a reduction in muscle mass and an increase in visceral fat mass. In addition, menopause-related changes in the gut microbiome can promote weight gain in middle age.

All that extra weight can worsen hot flashes while increasing a woman's risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease. Obesity also increases the risk of cancer in women, including breast and uterine cancer.

Despite the rise of fad diets and over-the-counter supplements that claim to burn fat, calorie restriction remains the most important measure for weight loss and maintenance. Although physical activity is initially less effective than dietary interventions for weight loss, it plays a critical role in weight maintenance after initial diet-induced weight loss and has numerous other health benefits. Weight loss medications are available, but there are concerns about cost, drug interactions, adverse events, and possible long-term toxicity. In extreme cases, bariatric surgery can be an extremely effective option, but ultimately sustained behavior change is required to maintain results long-term.

Although hormone therapy should not be used for weight control in midlife women, when used to treat bothersome menopausal symptoms, it can improve body composition by redistributing visceral fat to lower body fat depots.

Dr. Ekta Kapoor of Mayo Clinic's Center for Women's Health will speak about weight gain in midlife at the NAMS Annual Meeting, highlighting the latest thinking about why women gain weight in midlife and how they can combat it.

"Without active efforts to adopt a healthier diet and regular physical activity, weight gain in midlife women is an inevitable event. It is essential that women enter menopause with this knowledge and familiarity with practical tips to prevent and manage weight gain," says Kapoor.

There's no doubt that women face an uphill battle against weight gain as they age and transition to menopause, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to help them combat the problem. This presentation promises to provide some valuable insights that healthcare professionals can use when providing weight management advice to their menopausal patients.”

Dr. Faubion, medical director of NAMS

Dr. Kapoor and Dr. Faubion will be available for interviews before and after the presentation at the annual meeting.

Source:

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS)

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