Why Is Weight Loss Tougher After Menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when the child-bearing years have ended, and the body begins to prepare for later life. During this time, a woman's body goes through various changes, including a drop in estrogen production.

Estrogen is an essential female hormone that controls various functions, including weight. It's easy to gain weight after menopause because of the drop in estrogen.

Advanced Integrated Medical's team understands the difficulties you're experiencing during and after menopause. Dr. Dee S. Stevens is a functional medicine doctor who offers weight loss options when you're struggling to shed excess weight, especially after menopause.

The facts on menopause

Every woman experiences menopause later in life when the body can no longer support reproduction and carrying a baby in the womb. During menopause, there are significant changes in hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

During menopause, the body changes, including mood swings, irregular bleeding, night sweats, or hot flashes. Weight gain is another major issue many women face during and after menopause.

Estrogen is one of the main culprits in hormonal weight gain after menopause. Your estrogen drops significantly after menopause, causing a significant change in body functions, including metabolism.

Why is losing weight so hard?

It's never easy to lose weight, but it's much more difficult after your body goes through menopausal changes. There are several reasons for weight gain during menopause, and they include the following:

Hormonal changes

Your body goes through various hormonal changes during menopause, making it hard to lose weight—the significant changes in estrogen cause fat storage, especially in your abdomen.

Insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is common in women, especially during and after menopause. Even with clean eating and exercise, losing weight with insulin resistance is often challenging.

Changes in muscle mass

The muscles help you burn calories and fat, but unfortunately, your muscle mass decreases as you get older. Inactivity and hormone changes decrease muscle mass after menopause, causing difficulties in losing weight.

Trouble sleeping

Hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability make it difficult for you to sleep during menopause. Poor sleep quality often leads to weight gain, making it harder to lose because of chronic fatigue.

All these issues make it extremely difficult for you to lose weight, especially after menopause. However, you don't have to live with the excess fat forever; we can help.

Tips for weight loss after menopause

Luckily, you aren’t doomed to continue gaining weight after menopause. You can make plenty of lifestyle changes to maintain or lose weight, even after menopause.

Dr. Stevens works with you to come up with a plan that helps you understand weight gain and provides you with tips to lose weight for good, including the following:

• Increase physical activity
• Control portion sizes
• Eat mindfully
• Get plenty of sleep
• Try meditation and yoga
• Eat whole, healthy foods
• Plan for healthy choices
• Seek support from family and friends

If you're still struggling with weight loss after making the above lifestyle changes, Dr. Stevens offers medical weight loss programs to provide the tools to shed the weight and keep it off for good.

If you're struggling to lose weight after menopause, don't hesitate to call one of our conveniently located offices in Utah today or request an appointment on this website.