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In general, menopausal women aren’t having the time of their lives. However, menopause symptoms aren’t limited to night sweats and mood swings. Whether you’re in perimenopause or full menopause, you can expect to gain some weight. Studies indicate that many women will put on an extra pound each year throughout menopause. Do these issues have anything in common? Let’s find out.

Most experts believe that the hormone levels that are brought about by a woman’s change in life are one cause of weight gain. On the other hand, this is not the only factor that causes a woman to gain weight. Your age and lifestyle are also factors in the changes taking place in your body. The causes of weight gain are largely because of a less active lifestyle and eating too much. Because of this, your body burns fewer calories because of its reduced physical activity. Your body composition alters as the ratio shifts to less muscle and more fat because of metabolic slowdown. Weight gain also depends a lot on your genes. If your parents are naturally stocky, there is a good chance that you will inherit the same body type.

Drastic weight gain can lead to a number of health problems that might exacerbate menopausal symptoms. Experts have proven that women who gain more than 20 pounds after menopause are more prone to breast cancer by approximately 20 percent. However, those who lose some weight have better odds of escaping breast cancer. Those who lose about 20 pounds reduce their risk for breast cancer by 23 percent.

If you want to avoid gaining weight and maintain your good health during this phase of your life, it is suggested that a balanced diet in conjunction with daily exercise should be undertaken. Daily exercise can increase your metabolism, thus enabling you to burn more fat. As well, you can increase your muscle mass by strength training, which also boosts your metabolism and helps maintain strong bones.

The benefits of a proper diet are well documented. But it’s common knowledge that you need to consume 200 less calories each day just to keep your weight where it is. This fact applies to women who are in their 40’s. If you are eating a healthy diet at the start of perimenopause, you will not gain as much weight as you would normally do once you have fully entered the phase.