Will Women Gain Weight After Menopause?

Many women believe that their bodies will undergo significant changes after menopause. This is indeed true, as estrogen secretion gradually decreases and endocrine imbalances may occur. However, menopause does not cause weight gain in women. At any age, weight gain and even obesity-related complications occur when caloric intake exceeds expenditure. Menopause refers to the decline of ovarian function and cessation of menstruation. It can be divided into natural menopause and artificial menopause. Natural menopause is caused by physiological depletion of ovarian follicles, while artificial menopause involves surgical removal of both ovaries or other methods to stop ovarian function, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Surgical removal of the uterus while preserving one or both ovaries is not considered artificial menopause. The perimenopausal syndrome or menopausal syndrome refers to a group of symptoms primarily caused by fluctuations or decreases in sex hormones before and after menopause, characterized by autonomic nervous system dysfunction accompanied by neuropsychological symptoms. Menopause represents the decline of ovarian function, depletion of estrogen secretion, cessation of menstruation, and termination of reproductive function. It generally occurs in three stages: premenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Menopause is calculated based on the time of the woman's last menstrual period, and most women experience natural menopause between 45 and 55 years of age. Sudden and significant estrogen deficiency after menopause can cause some discomfort, which may occur even during the premenopausal period. Common symptoms include mood changes, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, inner unrest, depression, episodic facial flushing, hot flashes, sweating, dry and itchy skin, sometimes with a sensation of ants crawling on the skin, loss of skin elasticity, increased wrinkles, gradual muscle relaxation, occasional pain, fatigue or weakness, headaches, dizziness, and unstable blood pressure. These symptoms are collectively known as the menopausal syndrome.