Menopause Weight Gain Symptoms

Women experience many symptoms during menopause, and perhaps the most frustrating is weight gain. These extra pounds can pose health risks for most women, not to mention lower a woman’s self-esteem and confidence. Almost 90 percent of all women will gain weight during menopause, but this doesn’t mean weight gain is unavoidable. Weight gain is inevitable as the body ages for both men and women, but you can take steps to reduce or eliminate unwanted pounds.

What Is Weight Gain?

Weight gain simply means a person has increased their body mass. Body mass can increase due to water retention, fat deposits or adding muscle. Most women will gain fat deposits during menopause, especially around the abdomen.

Between the ages of 45 and 55, most women can expect to gain between 12 and 15 pounds. Normally, this added weight is not distributed evenly throughout the body. It tends to settle in the abdomen causing women to lose their youthful hourglass shape in favor of a rounded shape.

Menopausal Weight Gain Symptoms

Most people notice weight gain because clothing starts to get tighter or the number on the bathroom scale increases.There are no other symptoms of weight gain, and most women know they are gaining weight, so it’s unnecessary to identify this symptom of menopause. Although weight gain is not a symptom only seen during menopause, there are unique symptoms associated with weight gain during menopause. You will find a list of weight gain during menopause symptoms on the right side of this page.

Weight Gain Risks

Women may feel self-conscious and develop a poor body image if they gain weight during menopause, but aesthetics is not the only concern for weight gain. Carrying excess weight, especially in the abdomen area, can lead to serious health risks. Risks for many common diseases that affect women in their 40s and 50s are increased when the body is carrying extra fat.

Some conditions and diseases that can arise due to extra weight are:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• Osteoarthritis
• Breast cancer
• Sleep apnea
• Kidney disease
• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 diabetes
• Increased severity in menopause symptoms

Breast Cancer And Weight Gain

Weight gain during and after menopause has a significant effect on breast cancer rates. Gaining 20 pounds or more after menopause increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer by almost 20 percent. Women who lost 20 pounds after menopause, however, lower their risk of breast cancer by up to 23 percent. Continue reading about menopausal weight gain symptoms and treatment.