In life, we often encounter women who were slim and beautiful in their thirties, but become overweight during menopause. What is the reason for this? Is there a way to reverse it?
(1) Metabolic disorders and reduced calorie needs. Women entering menopause gradually have a decrease in body tissue cells but an increase in fat tissue. Combined with aging and decreased physical activity, the calorie needs decrease and basal metabolism lowers. This leads to an increase in stored protein and fat, causing obesity.
(2) Poor diet and excessive nutrition. With the improvement of living standards and an unrestrained diet, excessive food intake, especially high-fat foods, is also one of the causes of obesity.
(3) Genetic obesity. If parents have a tendency for obesity, it can be inherited dominantly or recessively, making it easier to become obese.
In addition, there are many other causes of obesity, such as endocrine factors, hypothyroidism, water retention, increased cortisol, and painful obesity.
Generally, those who exceed 15-20% of their normal body weight are considered obese, which means being more than 10 kilograms above the ideal weight. Obesity is detrimental to health and can lead to decreased immunity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, kidney stones, and respiratory dysfunction. The mortality rate of these diseases also increases. Therefore, obesity should be taken seriously.
During menopause, to prevent body obesity and maintain physical health, attention should be paid to two aspects:
First, have a reasonable and appropriate diet. When the body tends to gain weight, limit the intake of calories, mainly sugar and fat. Eat more vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, and soy products;
Second, engage in appropriate exercise, such as cycling at a moderate speed or running. Exercising for at least 15 minutes a day is beneficial. By adhering to these two methods during menopause, as long as they are persistent and reasonable, you can achieve better results.
