Research has found that most women will experience a 10-20 pound (4.5-9 kg) weight gain during perimenopause. Many people believe that links between perimenopause and weight gain are caused due to physical changes that occur in the body during this period of time, including changes in the levels of the hormone estrogen. There are also several important psychological changes that can lead to weight gain during perimenopause including anxiety, fatigue, and stress.
In order to more completely understand the links between perimenopause and weight gain, a woman should first understand the physical changes that happen to her body during this time period. The biggest change that can lead to a substantial weight gain is a change in your hormone levels. One of the most significant hormones that is affected during perimenopause is estrogen. Low levels of estrogen can lead to a number of serious side effects, including significant weight gain. Estrogen is typically surrounded by fat — as estrogen levels decrease, the body stores more fat in an attempt to prevent further estrogen loss. This makes it very difficult to maintain previous weight levels, and even more difficult to lose weight during perimenopause.
As stated above, physical causes are not the only link between perimenopause and weight gain. Research has found that psychological stressors can also lead to significant weight gain during perimenopause. Anxiety, fatigue, and other types of stress are common during perimenopause, all of which have been linked to tendencies such as overeating, snacking late at night, and eating high fat foods. All of these habits have been linked to increases in weight.
One of the most important ways to limit the effects perimenopause has on weight gain is to make sure that a woman is actually going through perimenopause. A doctor will be able to determine for sure if she is suffering from this condition. Once the doctor has made an affirmative diagnosis, it is important to start therapies that can help in the elimination of unwanted weight gain. As discussed earlier, one of the primary causes of weight gain during perimenopause is a low level of estrogen. Including estrogen in a woman's diet can supplement low levels of this hormone.
In addition to supplementing with estrogen, it is important to start an exercise program. Exercising on a regular basis can not only help in the prevention of excessive weight gain, but can also help release hormones that are guaranteed to improve mood. This will lead to less stress and contribute to a person's overall wellbeing.