WOMEN ON the verge of menopause worry about the end of their reproductive years and physiological changes, including putting on those few extra pounds around the waist. But many studies are now saying that weight gain at menopause is less about changes in the body's hormonal activities and more about lifestyle choices.
Studies such as the Massachusetts Women's Health Study (reported in the journal Menopause) indicate that a lifestyle factor -- exercise -- is more strongly linked to weight changes than physiology. Menopause is not always associated with weight gain and those women paid attention to their nutrition and engaged in a regular programme of physical activity were able to stave off those extra pounds during menopause.
Women may feel a change in the fit of their clothes, however, as the level of the female hormone, oestrogen, falls at menopause and the body deposits fat around the waist.
The studies also do not support the common belief by many women that the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) -- prescribed at menopause -- causes weight gain. In fact, in another study, women who used HRT had less body fat (about five per cent less) and lower weight than those who did not use it. It is believed that HRT raises the oestrogen levels and might reduce the body's tendency to deposit fat around the waist.
Even the lifestyle decision to watch a lot of television each day appeared to affect weight management, with women watching one to two-and-a-half hours of television more likely to be overweight than those watching less than an hour.
