Some Reasons For Weight Gain
Nutritionists are counseling more of them -- in fact, lots of them. They are the growing numbers of menopausal women in this aging society who are trying to cope with the cultural demands to stay young, thin and cheerleader-like. But many find it hard to be rah-rah, given the physical and hormonal changes that occur, the conflicting advice they get and the lack of public discussion.
Menopause still has that aura of mystery about it. Every woman kind of keeps it to herself. What may be difficult to hide, however, is gain weight and muscle. A study of 500 women conducted in 2006 by Judith Wurtman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showed that 70 percent of thin and normal-weight women put on weight during menopause, as did 90 percent of overweight and obese women. Why?
There are no good studies that answer that question, said Wurtman, although there are a number of theories. For one, women who are taking hormone replacements may find that they retain more water, a consequence of the progesterone in the tablets, according to C. Wayne Callaway, an endocrinologist and associate clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University. In addition, Callaway says, he has found higher weight gains among women who take higher dosages of hormone replacements than may be necessary.
Heather Johnson, an obstetrician/gynecologist with the Women Physicians Association in the District, said women on hormone replacement therapy should put on no more than 5 pounds; if they gain more, it may be from other factors, such as inactivity or slowing metabolism. Indeed, if anecdotal evidence is any indication, there is a wide range of weight-related responses to hormone replacement. Yvonne Egertson, 53, librarian at the Newspaper Association of America, didn't notice any weight gain immediately following her therapy. But, Egertson said, she has put on about 15 pounds in the past few years, which she attributes to not exercising enough and treats, like candy from the vending machine or wine and cheese at home after work. But Daicy Bellingham, a Reston marketing assistant, gained 10 pounds in the seven weeks after she started hormone replacements. Weight gain during menopause may also have psychological roots, said Callaway. Mood changes may lead to overeating, he said. Plus, writes Ann Louise Gittleman in super nutrition for menopause, weight gain during and after menopause may also result from negative attitudes about aging and perceived loss of sexual attractiveness. Comfort food, something creamy, rich and sweet, is often a solace. And there are some physiological theories too. According to Gittleman, women use up extra calories in the process of ovulation. So when they stop ovulating, they may be left with up to 300 calories per day that are no longer being burned. Baltimore dietitian Colleen Pierre said there is evidence that weight gain may be the body's attempt to replace the estrogen it's losing. Estrogen is manufactured in fat cells, she said. But mostly, Pierre has found that weight gain in the menopausal women she counsels results from a lifetime of chronic dieting. These are the women who have been historically dieting forever, and now all the things they did in the past aren't working at all. They have a sense that they have lost control, and if they're having hot flashes, it's also making them feel out of control. What's more, a common complaint among women going through menopause is that they lose the ability to concentrate. And trying to lose weight takes a tremendous amount of energy.
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