Female Menopause
Just as vitamins and minerals decline with age, the organs in women produce declining hormones with age. It is known that if we do not replace hormones, our brain, bones, heart, vessels, joints, skin, mood and most importantly, quality of life, decline more rapidly.
About Female Menopause
Often referred to as "The Change", menopause is the biological process that simply refers to a time in your life when your body no longer continues having a period. As women age, the number of eggs released for fertilization declines. The female hormones that regulate the ovulation and menstruation functions begin to decline as well. The importance of Estrogen and Progesterone are key in that they signal the body when it is time to ovulate and menstruate. As these hormones regress, periods will become irregular before finally stopping altogether. Once completely stopped, the menopause phase has begun.
Weight Gain During Menopause
As women approach the menopause phase, they must adapt to the various physical changes that occur. Many women experience weight gain, which still proves to be the most difficult symptom to accept. This side effects of menopause can alter a woman's confidence, self-esteem, and self-image, not to mention the number of potential health concerns that could develop. The potential of acquiring more threatening conditions is greater among over-weight females, and thus, put women at a high risk.
What Causes Weight Gain?
Metabolism plays a huge role in the management of one's weight. As one gets older, the metabolism slows down significantly. Midsections are prone to bulge farther than they used to, however, women in the menopause phase are of higher concern. Women that experience fluctuations in their hormone levels are more likely to gain weight.
Hormonal Causes of Weight Gain
A female's hormones have complex effects on her body, specifically, weight control. Estrogen, Progesterone, Androgen, and Testosterone can all affect weight gain. Here's how these hormones can affect a woman's weight management goals:
- Estrogen: As the female's body produces less estrogen, the body searches for other sources of the hormone in places other than the ovaries. Since fat cells are capable of producing estrogen, the body strives to convert calories into fat, hoping to increase estrogen levels. To make matters worse, fat cells cannot burn those calories like the muscles do, leading to weight gain.
- Progesterone: Women undergoing menopause often experience water weight and bloating, caused by decreased levels of progesterone. Although not technically considered to be weight gain, women tend to feel heavier, and feel that their clothes fit tighter than usual.
- Androgen: The "middle-age spread" is coined by the decrease of this hormone. As the amount of Androgen decreases with menopause, it's mission is to send new weight to the mid-section.
- Testosterone: This hormone is effective in helping a female to generate lean muscle mass out of its calorie intake. Because muscle cells burn calories faster than fat cells, the metabolism is increased. Conversely, if the testosterone levels drop, fewer calories are being transformed into muscle mass, resulting in a drop in the metabolic rate and an increase in weight.
Other Related Factors for Weight Gain
Insulin Resistance can also be a contributing factor to weight gain during the menopause phase. At this time, the body begins turning every calorie into fat. Accustomed to a low-fat, high-carb diet, the body becomes resistant to insulin produced in the blood stream, due to the consumption of processed and refined foods. This is a natural cause of weight gain that affects women after the age of 40.
Stress can also contribute to menopausal weight gain. Stress hormones can deter the body from losing weight because they naturally signal the body to go into storage mode. It is the same effect when the body thinks it is not getting food for a long time, and reverts to storing every calorie it can get - causing weight gain.
What Can My Weight Doctor® Do to Help?
With the help of natural bio-identical hormones, My Weight Doctor® can balance hormonal levels such as estrogen, progesterone, androgen, testosterone and thyroid imbalances into more favorable levels.
My Weight Doctor® focuses on four areas of weight gain through female Menopause:
- Bio-Identical Hormone Therapies.
- Medication & supplements.
- Nutrition & Counseling.
- Fitness & Exercise Regimen.
As you commit and continue with the My Weight Doctor® program, you will discover that female weight loss will become more of a reality!
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