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During menopause, it’s common for people to deal with a number of symptoms, from hot flashes to night sweats to weight gain. While a shift in body temperature can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, carrying extra pounds has been linked to numerous chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Lisa Ann Golik, MD, an OBGYN at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California, explains that natural aging and hormonal changes are often to blame. “A decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels can predispose a woman to gaining weight in the abdominal area,” she says. “Also with aging, there is a noted reduction in muscle mass and increase in fatty tissue mass.” That’s not all—your metabolism slows, and many people tend to be less active as they grow older, too.
With that in mind, here are effective strategies for preventing weight gain, maintaining your weight, and losing weight once you hit menopause.
Sources: WomensHealth.gov. Menopause and your hea... + 16
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