Understanding weight gain at menopause

Abstract

Objective The aim of this review was to summarize the literature regarding the impact of the menopause transition on body weight and body composition. MethodsWe conducted a search of the literature using Medline (Ovid, 1946 -present) and PubMed (1966PubMed ( -2012 for English-language studies that included the following search terms: ' menopause ' , ' midlife ' , ' hormone therapy ' or ' estrogen ' combined with ' obesity ' , ' body weight ' or ' body composition ' .Results Whereas weight gain per se cannot be attributed to the menopause transition, the change in the hormonal milieu at menopause is associated with an increase in total body fat and an increase in abdominal fat. Weight excess at midlife is not only associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, but also impacts adversely on health-related quality of life and sexual function. Animal and human studies indicate that this tendency towards central abdominal fat accumulation is ameliorated by estrogen therapy. Studies mostly indicate a reduction in overall fat mass with estrogen and estrogen -progestin therapy, improved insulin sensitivity and a lower rate of development of type 2 diabetes. ConclusionThe hormonal changes across the perimenopause substantially contribute to increased abdominal obesity which leads to additional physical and psychological morbidity. There is strong evidence that estrogen therapy may partly prevent this menopause-related change in body composition and the associated metabolic sequelae. However, further studies are required to identify the women most likely to gain metabolic benefi t from menopausal hormone therapy in order to develop evidence-based clinical recommendations.

The Effect of Obesity and Overweightness on Age of Menopausal Females

“…Thus, obesity may indirectly effect the age of menopause, through irregular menstruation, although the results of the present study indicated no significant correlation between mean BMI and age of menopause in females with overweightness and obesity. Similar to these results, Davis et al found that weight gain was not attributed to menopause transition (20). Also, other researchers have found no association between BMI or physical activity and age at natural menopause (9), which are consistent with the results of the present study.…”

Soy Isoflavones (from Glycine max) in Menopause Health and Diseases

“…Menopause, an age-related loss of ovarian function adds further complexity to the aging milieu. Many women experience weight gain and fat accumulation in the waist region during their menopausal Biochemistry & Physiology: Open Access period [14]. It is already reported that postmenopausal women are more prone to develop adiposity/obesity and its associated pathological sequelae when compared to the men of peer age [15].…”

Otyłość w okresie około- i pomenopauzalnym

“…Wciąż wzrasta liczba osób, u których rozpoznaje się nadwagę lub otyłość. Epidemia otyłości dotyczy wszystkich grup wiekowych, w tym -co szczególnie niepokojące -także dzieci [1].…”

“…: cukrzycy typu 2, choroby niedokrwiennej serca, zawału mięśnia sercowego, miażdżycy naczyń, nadciś-nienia tętniczego, udaru mózgu, nietrzymania moczu, zespołu otępiennego, choroby zwyrodnieniowej stawów czy wreszcie -nowotworów, w tym raka sutka, endometrium i jelita grubego [1,2].…”