Belly Fat and Menopause

You are trying to slip into a pair of pants that have always fit you and, to your chagrin, you discover that you can't get them zipped. Your belly and midsection seem to have gotten bigger even though you haven't gained any weight. If you are menopausal, this is par for the course but that doesn't mean that you have to take it lying down.

Belly Fat and Its Risks

The Mayo Clinic explains that gaining weight in the abdomen tends to happen when women enter into menopause. This isn't a good thing. Belly fat increases your risk of certain kinds of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As you get older, belly fat slowly increases because your metabolism is slowing down. Women get even more belly fat than men because, after menopause, fat distribution in the body shifts. You may discover that your legs, hips and arms are smaller but your belly is bigger.

Factors

If you aren't as active as you were when you were younger, that, coupled with a slowing metabolism, is going to catch up with you. In addition, if you have a predisposition to be thick in the belly this is going to make matters worse. Even if you aren't overweight, too much weight in your midsection is unhealthy. Your body changes after menopause and the breaking down and storage of fat is different than it was in your younger years because of hormonal upsets.

Active Fat Cells

The fat cells in your abdomen are active and produce hormones and other substances that can have an impact on your health. Some of these fat cells produce estrogen, even after menopause, which may up your risk for developing breast cancer. Some fat cells encourage insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes.

Measure

Measure your waist and see what the outcome is. Use a tape measure, running it around your midsection at the level of your navel. Do not suck in your stomach. Don't pull the tape too tightly. If your measurement is more than 35 inches there is too much fat concentrated in this area, even if you maintain a healthy weight. A measurement of even 33 inches, regardless of your weight, is believed by some researchers to increase your health risks.

Testosterone

Research done by the Rush University Medical Center reveals that testosterone may be the culprit when it comes to a rise in visceral belly fat during menopause. According to the lead author of this study, Imke Janssen, an increase in testosterone activity in a woman is believed to be the main reason for the accumulated fat and puts a woman at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. In the past, it was believed that the loss of estrogen put menopausal women at risk for health problems because estrogen protects a woman's body. However, it may be that testosterone is more influential than was earlier believed in increasing health risks for menopausal women.