Weight Gain in Women

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Understanding Weight Gain in Women

Women in our country are conditioned to be very weight-conscious. And for most women, that doesn’t change with the onset of menopause. In fact, unwanted weight gain during menopause can make women more self-conscious than ever. More importantly, excess weight can threaten your health, and exacerbate other common symptoms of menopause.

Facts

You may find it nearly impossible to maintain or lose weight during this time in life—even if your diet and fitness habits haven’t changed.

Here are the hard facts about menopausal weight gain:

Approximately 90% of women will gain weight just before and during menopause.
Most women will gain between 10 and 15 pounds during this time.
When women gain weight during menopause, those new pounds will likely be gained around the midsection.
Weight will be distributed differently than in younger years. Your body shape might change from being pear-shaped to being more apple-shaped.
Additional weight in the form of water retention is also common during menopause.

Causes of Weight Gain in Women

The reason women gain weight during menopause, even if diet and fitness habits haven’t changed, is because key hormones in the body decline during this chapter in life. And hormones have everything to do with the following:

Metabolism
How much fat we store
How hungry we are

Estrogen

Estrogen levels drop substantially during menopause as the ovaries stop producing it. But did you know that fat cells produce estrogen, too? As your ovaries produce less estrogen, your body looks for other ways to make it. While your ovaries may no longer be an option, converting calories to fat still is. So your body will work extra hard to do so.

Progesterone

Progesterone levels also decrease during menopause and perimenopause. While progesterone does not have an impact on the body’s fat content, insufficient amounts will cause water retention and bloating.

Testosterone

Testosterone is found in small quantities within the female body; and it too diminishes during menopause and perimenopause. Testosterone directly affects your body’s ability to build muscle mass, and therefore affects metabolism. Muscle burns more calories than fat. So the less muscle you have, the fewer calories you burn, even when you’re asleep.

Thyroid

Low thyroid is very common in menopausal women, and can also be responsible for weight gain. Since thyroid is responsible for regulating your body’s calorie consumption, low thyroid can mean a diminished metabolic rate. A slower metabolism means fewer calories burned, which makes it difficult to keep weight off.

Cortisol

When you’re under stress, your body releases too much of a stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol in excessive amounts can signal your body to go into storage mode. In other words, when too much cortisol is released, your body thinks you’re in danger—and it responds to that perceived emergency by conserving calories. When your body reacts this way, it will store every calorie it can, and therefore cause weight gain, usually around the midsection.

Treatment For Weight Gain in Women

Trying to lose weight when your hormones are working against you is like trying to push a heavy rock up a steep hill. Our doctors can develop a customized hormone program for you that will take the uphill battle out of losing weight. Other solutions might include growth hormone therapy, and injectable nutrients designed to increase metabolism. Don’t spend another day in a body that doesn’t feel like your own. Let’s get you back to feeling like you.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have done a lot of reading about hormone therapy, but does it work?: Yes—if it’s done correctly, and under the supervision of an experienced doctor.

Hormone therapy is not a fanciful search for the fountain of youth. It is medical science at its best. It is trained doctors using sophisticated lab tests and treatment protocols developed and used over many years to produce life-altering results.
When should I think about replacing hormones?: Historically, our answer to the “when should I start” question has been to begin once you have symptoms, regardless of age.

However, the idea that we can manage the aging process is gaining momentum. An outgrowth of that is that we have an increasing number of clients who contact us initially because they wish to take control of the aging process early, long before symptoms have emerged.

Whether you want to head off the aging process early, or you’re just beginning to experience symptoms, or your symptoms are severe and you’ve had them for a long time, we can design a treatment program to address your unique needs.
What does Bioidentical mean?: Bioidentical means that molecularly the hormone that you’re replacing is exactly the same as what your body produces naturally. The molecules of synthetic hormones are slightly different.

There are hormone receptors all over your body. Think of these receptors like they’re locks, and hormone molecules like they’re keys. The synthetic molecules don’t fit into those locks quite right, which means they don’t work the same way in your body—often with detrimental consequences. You may be wondering…why do pharmaceutical companies make synthetic hormones with molecules that are slightly different? Because it’s the only way they can patent them. Bioidentical hormones can’t be patented.
Do I have to treat all hormones?: Hormones can be treated separately or in combination. However, we do emphasize that hormone therapy is about having balanced hormones—better results are obtained by taking the proper amount of a combination of hormones, depending upon what your lab results show, and depending upon your symptoms. All of your hormones will function better if they’re all present at healthy levels.
How are hormones replaced?: The short answer is that it depends. For some hormones, there are one or two optimal and safe methods of delivery. In other instances, client preference may come into play. You will be informed as to what the pros and cons are of any particular method of delivery, so that you and our doctors can decide what makes the most sense for you. Regardless, our doctors will not allow you to do something that isn’t safe.
How much of any given hormone will I take?: Your Renew Youth doctor will prescribe the amount needed to optimize your levels. Our doctors use a combination of lab testing and feedback from you with regard to how you’re feeling to dial in just the right dosages.
Is hormone therapy safe?: Yes. There are countless studies that have shown not only the safety of hormone therapy, but also the long-term health benefits. This assumes that treatment is done properly, and monitored on a regular basis. Again, the only way we do things is safely, and correctly.
Are there any side effects associated with your therapies?: When hormones and other treatments are administered correctly—and correctly is the only way we do things—there should be no side effects.
How long must I commit to hormone therapy?: Your commitment to hormone therapy should last as long as you want the results. If this thought is daunting, consider that men and women of previous generations had the same age-related challenges that we face today. They could not, however, do anything about it. When you consider the improved quality of life that hormone therapy affords, not to mention a longer life, making the commitment becomes easier.
Where and how do I get my lab testing done?: Renew Youth has national accounts with two of the largest lab companies in the country. We will arrange your testing at a location that is convenient for you.
Where will I see my Renew Youth doctor?: Renew Youth has doctors located across the country, and we will determine which one is closest to you.
Are diet and exercise important?: Yes! Establishing and maintaining good lifestyle habits is critical to achieving optimal results from your treatment. This means eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, managing stress, getting adequate sleep, and drinking lots of water.
Will injectable nutrients be a part of my program?: That’s largely up to you. Many of our clients augment their better aging efforts with injectable nutrients. Our doctors will discuss your goals with you, and will review the various options available to you.