Weight Gain and The Diabolical Menopausal Monster

Do you remember the little foam animals and flowers that your parents gave you as a child? You would put them in a glass of water and they would swell up to gigantic proportions. They were totally magical when we were kids.

Women are not however, nearly as entertained when we hit the age of menopause and our hips and stomach swell just like those small animals we got as children. Women of all shapes and sizes live in fear of the diabolical menopausal monster that can turn us into a fun house mirror image of our former selves.

Why is this happening to me? Many women feel singled out when the diabolical menopausal monster attacks them in middle age. Women that have never had weight problems are especially vulnerable to this train of thought.

There are known reasons for this phenomenon, and unknown reasons. Science and technology have not been able to pinpoint all of the reasons but this much they know:

1. Women that gain weight in menopause tend not to exercise as much as other women. Exercise is more important than ever in our menopausal years. As we age, there is a natural process of diminishing muscle-mass.


2. Genetic factors. If your parents or other family members gained weight later in life, you are also at risk to gain weight during or after menopause.


3. Stressors. What else is happening in your life? Life changes such as divorce, a loved one that has recently passed away, children leaving the home - or returning to it - can cause a high level of stress in our lives. Stress further triggers hormone imbalance causing food cravings or eating more in general.


4. An extremely happy and peaceful life. Sometimes women that are content with their lives tend to 'let go' in menopause. They do not feel the need to continue pushing for accomplishment. Everything is fine!


5. Hormone imbalance. All of our bodies' organisms' work together forming a harmonious dance that keeps us healthy and fit. Menopause causes a drop in estrogen levels that can trigger the fat cells to call for more fuel (food). This in turn causes us to eat more than we normally do.

Is menopausal weight gain harmful? Yes, it can be. Menopausal weight gain brings with it a higher risk for high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

It also raises the risk for colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Research has been done that shows a weight gain of four and one half pounds during menopause can raise the risk of breast cancer by 50%. Amazing.

Weight gain during or after menopause does not have to be a certainty in your life. You can fight the diabolical menopausal monster - and win.