Weight gain during menopause: a belief to fight

Weight gain during menopause is a belief that we must fight, said Dr. Juliane Berdah gynecologist-endocrinologist (Necker Hospital, Paris), at a press conference in Paris on the theme "Women in form (s) after 45 years. "
Weight gain during menopause is it coincidence or fate? "Contrary to this idea, all of the epidemiological studies show that there is no weight gain in middle age. Actually, a weight gain of fifteen pounds is between 20 and 45 years for women as in humans, then the weight has stabilized between 45 and 65 years, "reveals the specialist.

But then how to explain the weight gain seen by many women in menopause? "This period of life is, in fact, an opportunity to individuals which affect the weight and shape physiological and psychological changes," said Dr. Berdah.

Thus, the stress generated by the loss of fertility, decreased professional power, seduction, children who leave the "nest" or conversely, are embedded leads to an increase in food consumption may lead to decision weight.

Food also acts as comforter element in response to a distress or anguish, fat and sugar increases the secretion of brain endorphins that soothe.

"However, the noted gynecologist, menopause plays on the morphology and distribution of body fat, which focuses primarily on the belly and waist. Before menopause, estrogens are responsible for the breakdown of fats called gynoid, c that is to say at the hips.'s estrogen deficiency associated with menopause reverse this trend and focus on fat belly (android distribution). "

When prescribing hormone replacement therapy, it should ideally be "the most physiological possible and safest" not cause weight gain and preserve the silhouette, she says, adding that estrogens transdermal administration fulfill this mission more cause no increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism, or breast cancer, associated with natural progesterone, as demonstrated by studies (Esther and E3N).