Is My Weight Gain Due to Menopause?

Women approaching or going through menopause often experience hot flashes, sleep changes, and fatigue…they also commonly gain weight despite living a healthy lifestyle. But how do you know if your recent weight gain is related to menopause, or something else?

Answer 10 quick questions, and we’ll offer you more insight into your weight gain experience. Plus, we’ll also provide you with the best tips for managing your weight—including advice that’s tailored to the needs of women specifically experiencing menopause-related weight gain.

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Questions Overview

1. How old are you?
  1. 35-45
  2. 45-55
  3. 55-65
  4. 65-75
2. I’m aware I'm going through perimenopause, menopause or postmenopause.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree
3. It feels like I gained weight suddenly, with no major, conscious changes to my diet.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree
4. I am primarily gaining weight around my abdomen.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree
5. It seems like I’m less likely to gain weight in my hips and thighs.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree
6. I feel fatigued in my day-to-day life (affecting my workout and activity levels).
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree
7. I’ve been experiencing hot flashes, which add to my daily (and nightly) discomfort.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree
8. I’m sleeping less (or getting lower quality sleep) now than I have in the past.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree
9. I’ve been experiencing mood swings, feeling low, unmotivated or even depressed).
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree
10. Women in my family have had a similar weight gain experience when they were my age.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neutral
  4. Disagree

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  • Eat more protein.<\/li>
  • Drink more water.<\/li>
  • Get active every day.<\/li>
  • Get more high-quality sleep.<\/li>
  • Eat your veggies.<\/li><\/ul>","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Lose-Weight"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Get-Quality-Sleep"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Lose Weight","id":5907,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Lose-Weight","image":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5c\/Be-Funny-Without-Telling-Jokes-Step-12.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-Funny-Without-Telling-Jokes-Step-12.jpg","alt":"How to Lose Weight"},{"title":"How to Get Quality Sleep","id":664122,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Get-Quality-Sleep","image":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Get-Quality-Sleep-Step-18.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Get-Quality-Sleep-Step-18.jpg","alt":"How to Get Quality Sleep"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":2,"text":"It seems possible that your weight gain is due to menopause.","meaning":"Looking at your answers, it seems possible that your weight gain is related to menopause. When a person experiences menopause-related weight gain, they often feel like they\u2019ve gained weight overnight. The weight also tends to accumulate in the abdomen (rather than the hips and the thighs). Menopause-related weight gain can be so frustrating\u2014on top of the discomfort and fatigue that accompanies menopause, you might also be left feeling like you\u2019ve lost control over your weight. But we have good news: there are actually so many effective ways to battle menopause-related weight gain, so you can start feeling like yourself again.
    • Stay active. Menopause creates so much discomfort for some people, and on top of that, it can zap you of energy. This combination can (understandably) lead to a less active lifestyle. But to combat menopause-related weight gain, you\u2019ll want to focus on staying active, building muscle, and enjoying exercise every day.<\/li>
    • Eat healthy. As aging slows your metabolism, you might need to tweak your diet in order to remain at your desired weight. But luckily, there are so many health hacks that make diet changes feel easier: try eating more protein, drinking more water, and indulging in healthy foods that you genuinely enjoy.<\/li>
    • Find a community. Menopause can be so tough\u2014and sticking to healthy routines throughout it is even tougher. If you\u2019re able, try to talk regularly with a group of people who share your experience. Discuss your wins and your struggles. And consider setting goals together to stay motivated.<\/li><\/ul>","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Lose-Weight-the-Healthy-Way"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Get-Quality-Sleep"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way","id":12247,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Lose-Weight-the-Healthy-Way","image":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Lose-Weight-the-Healthy-Way-Step-44.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Lose-Weight-the-Healthy-Way-Step-44.jpg","alt":"How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way"},{"title":"How to Get Quality Sleep","id":664122,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Get-Quality-Sleep","image":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Get-Quality-Sleep-Step-18.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Get-Quality-Sleep-Step-18.jpg","alt":"How to Get Quality Sleep"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":3,"text":"It seems likely that your weight gain is caused by menopause.","meaning":"Looking at your answers, it seems like your experience is in line with common menopausal weight gain. The most significant change that occurs during menopause is a significant drop in estrogen. This hormonal change is responsible for a shift in metabolism and can result in weight and fat gain, alongside changes in fat distribution in the body. Lower estrogen is also the culprit for hot flashes, mood swings, and fatigue. You might feel like, despite making no conscious changes to your lifestyle, you\u2019ve put on weight quickly. You might also notice that your weight gain is largely distributed across your abdomen, and very little has gone to your hips or thighs. Menopause-related weight gain can be so frustrating\u2014on top of the discomfort and fatigue that accompanies menopause, you might also be left feeling like you\u2019ve lost control over your weight. But we have good news: there are actually so many effective ways to battle menopause-related weight gain, so you can start feeling like yourself again.
      • Stay active. Menopause creates so much discomfort for some people, and on top of that, it can zap you of energy. This combination can (understandably) lead to a less active lifestyle. But to combat menopause-related weight gain, you\u2019ll want to focus on staying active, building muscle, and enjoying exercise every day.<\/li>
      • Eat healthy. As aging slows your metabolism, you might need to tweak your diet in order to remain at your desired weight. But luckily, there are so many health hacks that make diet changes feel easier: try eating more protein, drinking more water, and indulging in healthy foods that you genuinely enjoy.<\/li>
      • Find a community. Menopause can be so tough\u2014and sticking to healthy routines throughout it is even tougher. If you\u2019re able, try to talk regularly with a group of people who share your experience. Discuss your wins and your struggles. And consider setting goals together to stay motivated<\/li><\/ul>","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Get-Quality-Sleep"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Lose-Weight-the-Healthy-Way"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Get Quality Sleep","id":664122,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Get-Quality-Sleep","image":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b9\/Get-Quality-Sleep-Step-18.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Get-Quality-Sleep-Step-18.jpg","alt":"How to Get Quality Sleep"},{"title":"How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way","id":12247,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Lose-Weight-the-Healthy-Way","image":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Lose-Weight-the-Healthy-Way-Step-44.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Lose-Weight-the-Healthy-Way-Step-44.jpg","alt":"How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""}]" class="quiz_results_data"/>\"Chronotype<\/picture>","alt":"Chronotype Quiz: What's Your Natural Sleep Cycle?"},{"title":"Why Am I So Tired Quiz","id":13500176,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Why-Am-I-So-Tired-Quiz","image":"\"Why<\/picture>","alt":"Why Am I So Tired Quiz"},{"title":"Am I Neurodivergent Quiz","id":14117296,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Neurodivergent-Test","image":"\"Neurodivergent<\/picture>","alt":"Am I Neurodivergent Quiz"}],"number":1},{"text":"My spiritual side! I want to learn more about my relationship to the Universe...","result":"Awesome! These quizzes will help you learn more:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"What Is My Color Aura Quiz","id":13348135,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/What-Is-My-Color-Aura-Quiz","image":"\"What<\/picture>","alt":"What Is My Color Aura Quiz"},{"title":"What Chakra Do I Need to Balance Quiz","id":13493119,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Chakra-Test","image":"\"Chakra<\/picture>","alt":"What Chakra Do I Need to Balance Quiz"},{"title":"What Is My Angel Number Quiz","id":13736231,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/What-Is-My-Angel-Number-Quiz","image":"\"What<\/picture>","alt":"What Is My Angel Number Quiz"}],"number":2}]}" class="quiz_questionnaire_data"/>

    • Menopause: Key Facts You Should Know

    • Menopause comes at the end of a woman's reproductive years. Except in very rare cases, women can't get pregnant after going through menopause.
    • The most common age range when women experience menopause is 45-55. But keep in mind that that range can be different depending on the individual. Menopause tends to last around 7 years, but for some, it can be up to 14 years long.
    • Perimenopause refers to the time when menopause symptoms are first observed in an individual. This phase can last multiple years.
    • The most common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, a strong need to pee more often, sleeping trouble, mood swings, breast sensitivity, and dryness in the body.
    • Women going through menopause also oftentimes go through weight gain, especially around their abdomen.

    Going through menopause can be a challenge. But trust that you're not alone. To help cope with uncomfortable menopause symptoms, experts suggest focusing on stress reduction, sleep, and staying hydrated. And most importantly, make sure you're talking to your loved ones and finding the community and support that you deserve.

    Want to learn more?

    For more information about menopause and weight gain, check out these authoritative guides:

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