Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 4 hrs ago
Menopause can shift fat toward the abdomen, even with diet and exercise
Many women gain weight around the abdomen during the menopause transition, even when they eat less and exercise more.
Menopause-related changes in oestrogen can shift fat storage from the hips and thighs toward the waist; women gain about 2 to 3kg on average during this period.
Age-related muscle loss can slow metabolism, making it easier to gain fat and harder to lose weight.
Hormonal changes can also disrupt sleep, which may affect hunger and fullness, increase cravings and make exercise harder.
Asian women may carry more visceral fat despite a healthy BMI, according to studies of women in Singapore.
Visceral fat surrounds the organs, and greater amounts are linked to higher risks of diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Menopause can shift fat storage toward the abdomen, even when women eat less and exercise more.
The change is linked to declining oestrogen levels and can begin during perimenopause.
Women gain about 2–3 kg on average during the menopausal transition, according to a National University Hospital expert.
Age-related muscle loss and sleep disruption may also make weight gain more likely.
Asian women may accumulate visceral fat even when they appear slim or have a healthy body mass index.
- Who
- Midlife women, with Asian women noted as particularly susceptible to visceral fat accumulation.
- What
- Menopause can shift fat storage toward the abdomen, including visceral fat around internal organs.
- When
- During perimenopause and menopause.
- Where
- Around the abdomen, particularly around the waist and internal organs.
- Why
- Declining oestrogen, age-related muscle loss and sleep disruption are among the factors cited.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Declining oestrogen levels and changes in fat storage can begin.
Many women may shift from storing fat around the hips, thighs and buttocks to storing it around the waist.
- Average weight gain
- About 2–3 kg during the menopausal transition
- Abdominal fat
- Includes visceral fat around internal organs
- Asian women
- May accumulate visceral fat despite appearing slim or having a healthy BMI
- Singapore study
- 1,201 Chinese, Malay and Indian women
- Long-term American study
- 1,246 women studied
What people are saying
Menopause belly refers to the accumulation of excess fat around the abdomen, particularly visceral fat, which surrounds the internal organs
As Asian women naturally store less fat just under the skin, they can potentially appear slim and register a healthy BMI, while quietly accumulating visceral fat around their organs