Having a flat stomach is the dream of many people. Apart from being good for health, body weight and getting rid of excess belly fat can also boost one’s self-confidence. However, this may be a bit difficult for women to realize when they are approaching the age of 50.
Women will experience menopause as a natural part of aging as you approach the age of 50. In addition to the cessation of menstrual cycles, menopause causes many other changes in the body, including hormonal changes, changes mood, hot flashesto weight gain around the stomach that makes bloated stomach.
For middle-aged women, the tendency to have excess belly fat during menopause is a very common condition.
So, why do menopausal women easily experience a distended stomach?
Causes of Appearance of Belly Fat during Menopause
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Illustration of Menopausal Women/ Photo: pexels.com/Gustavo Fring
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Here are the common causes of distended stomach problems in your 50s, reported via Better Health Channel and Thais Aliabadi, MD, international practicing doctor of gynecology care. Here’s a list of reasons!
1. Decreased Muscle Mass due to Aging
As we age, muscle mass decreases and body fat increases. Loss of muscle mass also slows down the metabolic rate, making it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
Eating too much and exercising too little can lead to weight gain in middle age.
2. Changes in Estrogen and Fat Distribution in the Body
Approaching the age of 50, many women experience an increase in abdominal fat which is the cause of a distended stomach. This may be caused by a decrease in estrogen levels which affects the distribution of fat in the body.
During puberty, the hormone estrogen signals the body to store fat in the hips and thighs in preparation for a possible pregnancy. However, when women start menopause, their estrogen levels will drop dramatically. Reduced estrogen after menopause can cause fat to tend to be stored around the stomach, not on the hips and thighs.
3. Side Effects of Menopause Symptoms
Hormonal imbalance will give rise to several menopausal symptoms on the bodystarting from hot flushes, lack of sleep, mood changes quickly, to the desire to eat excessively. This condition makes it more difficult for some people to exercise and eat a healthy diet, leading to weight gain.
4. Genetic Factors
Genetic factors also play a major role in weight gain and obesity risk during menopause.
