Menopause and weight gain often go hand in hand. Here’s the good news! While some women going through the menopausal transition gain weight, it is not inevitable. I went through this life change about a dozen years ago and was able to maintain a steady weight.

Is Menopause and Weight Gain Inevitable?

According to the Mayo Clinic, hormonal changes alone don’t necessarily cause menopause weight gain. Instead, the weight gain is usually related to aging, as well as lifestyle and genetic factors. It is more likely that the hormonal changes of menopause might make you more likely to gain weight around your abdomen than around your hips and thighs.

With normal aging, muscle mass typically diminishes with age, while fat increases. Losing muscle mass slows your metabolism. So, if you continue to eat as you always have and don’t increase your physical activity, you’re likely to gain weight.

Other factors, such as a lack of exercise, unhealthy eating and not getting enough sleep, might contribute to menopause weight gain. When people don’t get enough sleep, they tend to snack more and consume more calories.

How to Avoid Weight Gain with Menopause

Although menopause and weight gain sometimes occur, there is a lot you can do to avoid gaining additional weight.

The following are strategies that can help people lose extra weight during menopause.

1. Increasing activity

Regular exercise is an excellent way to promote weight loss and overall physical health. Exercise is a key way to build muscle and prevent age-related muscle loss. Research shows that aerobic exercise can decrease body fat after menopause. Another study has found that resistance training three times a week can improve lean body mass and reduce body fat in postmenopausal women.

If a person is not already active, they may find it easier to increase their activity levels gradually. Little ways to build more activity into the day include:

  • doing yard work, such as gardening
  • taking a dog for a walk
  • parking farther away from the building entrance
  • taking the stairs instead of the elevator
  • standing up to take phone calls
  • going for a walk or getting another type of exercise at lunchtime

2. Eating nutrient-rich foods

To lose weight, people need to consume fewer calories than they use up. Making dietary changes is a key part of losing weight. Healthful, nutrient-dense foods should be the basis for all meals and snacks. A person’s diet should contain a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean sources of protein.

A Mediterranean-style diet is a very popular and effective diet for health. A 2016 study has reported that this diet can improve heart disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and lipid levels, and result in weight loss.

Here is what you should eat for a balanced healthy diet:

  • a variety of fruits and vegetables
  • lean proteins, from beans, fish, or chicken, for example
  • whole grains in bread and cereals
  • healthful fats, such as from olive oil or avocados
  • legumes

Avoid processed foods and those containing high amounts of trans or saturated fats. Some examples include:

  • white bread
  • pastries, such as cakes, cookies, and donuts
  • processed meats, such as hot dogs or bologna
  • foods with a lot of added oils or sugar
  • Reducing the consumption of sweetened drinks — such as sodas and juices — can also help. Sugar-sweetened beverages carry a lot of extra calories.

3. Making sleep a priority

Getting enough high-quality sleep is vital for maintaining a healthful weight and overall health. Low-quality sleep can lead to weight gain. Research has linked sleep disturbances to aging processes and metabolic disruption during menopause.

Alteration in sleep quality and circadian rhythms can affect appetite hormones and body fat composition. Focusing on getting a sufficient amount of restful sleep can help reduce menopause-related weight gain.

4. Considering alternative therapies

There has not been a lot of well-conducted, conclusive research into whether alternative medicine is effective in reducing symptoms related to menopause. But, these therapies may help relieve some symptoms and reduce stress.

Potential complementary and alternative therapies include:

  • yoga
  • hypnosis
  • herbal treatments
  • meditation

5. Mindful eating

Practicing mindfulness while eating can help change eating behaviors and may prevent weight gain. Mindful eating can help a person become aware of internal, rather than external, cues to eat. It can be a helpful approach to binge eating and eating related to emotional states. In some studies, mindful eating led to reduced food intake in overweight individuals and people with obesity.

6. Keeping track of food and weight

Tracking meals can help a person identify which unhealthful foods they regularly consume and in which contexts. This information can help with making specific dietary changes. Research shows that people who keep food logs, weigh themselves regularly, and maintain high activity levels are more likely to have clinically significant weight loss.

7. Controlling portion sizes

Portion sizes in restaurants have increased over the years, and people are eating out more, so it can be difficult to gauge how much food a person actually needs per meal and per day. To determine how much to include in a meal, get a food scale and become acquainted with a serving size.

Here are some ways to avoid unnecessary calories:

  • Measure out snacks instead of eating them from the bag.
  • Avoid eating in front of the television — sit at a table instead.
  • When eating out, opt for less bread and fewer appetizers.
  • Use a kitchen scale and measuring cups to measure portions at home.

8. Planning ahead

Meal planning and having healthful foods on hand will make a person less likely to choose unhealthful foods in a pinch. Stock the kitchen with healthful foods for simple meals, and plan for these meals, to prevent quick, less mindful eating. Carry healthful snacks to prevent trips to the vending machine.

9. Getting help from friends and family

Having the support of family and friends is an integral part of weight loss. Having a workout buddy, for example, can help people stay motivated to exercise. Some people like to track their progress on social media, which can help with accountability.

10. Making lifestyle changes

The key to keeping weight off is to maintain healthful habits in the long term. Fad diets tend to result in short-term weight loss, while adopting healthful habits, including cooking routines and getting regular exercise, are more likely to result in long-term effects.

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