Doctors often hear female patients report that they have gained weight after starting e-pills or menopausal HRT. Such a change in the hormonal situation seems to be a natural explanation for obesity. Is it so?
DO HORMONES FATTEN?
In studies conducted in different countries, many women believe that hormone pills make them fat. For example, about 70 percent of English women, half of North Americans, and a third of French and Germans think hormone pills increase weight.
However, there is no evidence of a weight gain effect of hormonal pills. Both e-pills used by women of childbearing potential and hormone replacement therapy in menopause have been the subject of a comprehensive database review (Cochrane) that has systematically reviewed all relevant scientific publications. The use of hormone pills in both age groups has not been shown to have a significant effect on weight. Appetite pills may have some effect on an individual.
Menstrual cycle and appetite
Many women experience an increase in appetite before menstruation, fluid builds up in the body, and the stomach bulges. Indeed, women report eating more before menstruation than after them. Studies have shown that binge eating disorders also become more common before menstruation and subside when menstruation is over. Other women seem to be more sensitive to this trait. Although carbohydrate cravings are the most commonly described type of eating disorder, it is thought that more fat and protein, or food in general, goes on the same ride. However, the weight may not increase much, as energy consumption increases slightly before menstruation.
Exercise is recommended for women who suffer from premenstrual edema and increased appetite. It improves mood and body well-being and improves self-esteem.
Menopausal weight gain
Many women find that weight increases easily during menopause. This has also been supported by research, but in fact the weight is rising at the same rate even before menopause. Unfortunately, the weight that comes with age is unfortunately mostly fat. Although most often the amount of muscle tissue increases with weight gain, this does not seem to be the case for a postmenopausal woman. It has been found that the average weight gain would be about half a pound per year. During menopause, weight begins to accumulate in the waist region, and it has been observed that as female hormone production declines, fat becomes more and more masculine in the middle body. Precursors of diabetes and cholesterol disorders also increase with such weight gain.
Weight loss of a middle-aged woman
Because in women, especially as they age, muscle mass threatens to decrease in proportion to the fat that is distributed to the middle body, exercise is an essential part of any attempt to maintain or lose weight. Exercise and especially strength training strengthens muscle mass and refreshes muscle metabolism. In addition, strenuous exercise is known to burn fat from inside the abdomen.
Weight loss is especially harmful for menopausal people. When you yo-yo, your muscles shrink every time you lose weight, and when you lose weight, it comes back specifically as fat. In this case, there is a danger of a further fatty body, where there is weight, but the muscles are small and inefficient. The metabolism of such a body is very low and the weight threatens to rise even from a small amount of food. As an additional dilemma, women who are constantly losing weight often develop bone loss.
However, it is not advisable to give up, but to increase muscle and bone strengthening exercise. Even if you don’t lose weight, at least it won’t rise as fast and your mood and overall well-being will improve.
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