Stave off weight gain after menopause

MANY WOMEN SAY losing or even maintaining weight after menopause is difficult, and now a study from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge sheds light on why. Scientists have found that women have a lower metabolism after menopause.

The research shows that postmenopausal women burned 100 to 150 fewer calories a day just resting and doing everyday activities, and they were less physically active, for an overall average decrease of 200 calories a day burned after menopause. The lower metabolism could be tied to lower estrogen levels, not muscle loss, says lead researcher Jennifer Lovejoy, formerly with Pennington.
And it looks as if lower estrogen may increase appetite and cause cravings for carbohydrates and fats, she says. So watch out for cookies, cakes and chips.

“Just cutting out one of these calorie-rich items could put you back in energy balance,” she says.

Lovejoy recommends that women who are in their early to mid-40s “begin gradually increasing physical activity and become more aware of dietary habits to help offset metabolic changes that can lead to weight gain with menopause.”