Menopause is also a high-risk time for weight gain, due to decreases in caloric needs. Research shows that as estrogen decreases, the blood insulin increases, thereby increasing the metabolism of carbohydrate to fat. The loss of hormones at the menopause appears to reduce both insulin secretion and elimination, but increasing insulin resistance thereafter brings about an increase in circulating insulin concentrations. Although the average woman gains two to five pounds during menopausal transition, some women are at risk for greater weight gain. There is also a hormonally driven shift in body fat distribution from peripheral to abdominal at menopause, which may increase health risks in older women.
Most women gain weight over time.
Whether fast or slow, changes in exercise, diet, and general activity lead to variations in weight. Our current culture tends to glorify thinness and discriminate against large people. The consequences can be terrible, especially in the terms of access to healthcare. There are ways to improve clinical effectiveness in issues related to weight and health. Thin does not necessarily equal healthy, nor does fat necessarily equal unhealthy.