Women, fat distribution and menopause

[ny biker]

Interesting article about a study involving menopause and fat storage.

http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/women-fat-distribution-and-menopause-new-research/updates/

"These changes mean that their cells are not only storing more fat, but are also less willing to part with it. "

Which reminds me, it's time to set up the indoor trainer and get pedaling...

[emily_in_nc]

This is totally depressing, but I have definitely seen it in my grandmothers, my mother, and now, myself. I'm not post-menopausal yet, but rapidly getting there (just posted on another thread that I went 3.5 months between periods this time). I weigh about the same I weighed 10 years ago (maybe 2 lbs more), but I carry a lot more flab in my tummy and love handles than I used to. My mom was always thin until she hit menopause, then she gained weight -- a lot of weight -- almost overnight, or so it seemed. I am soooo paranoid about doing the same, though I am much more active than she was at my age.

[ny biker]

I do know women who have lost weight in their late 60s and early 70s. And others over 60 who remain quite slim.

I'm curious as to why our bodies evolved this way. Is there a benefit to the additional fat? Protecting more fragile bones, perhaps? Or is it just a consequence of things breaking down over time?

[shootingstar]

In a regular magazine (http://www.more.com/health/wellness/4-ways-make-over-your-metabolism)but cites some medical studies on metabolism and perimenopause, menopause..

I agree my metabolism has naturally slowed down. The volume that I eat in general now, is quite different/less than when I was in my mid-late 20's. And now it is less food, no rice/heavy pasta and very little bread, plus regular cycling just so keep my weight on an even base level. To really keep from not gaining any weight I do have to ramp up more cycling for a longer time period.

I's quite deceiving when people have known me /see me. They think it's natural. It isn't. There's some effort and changes made along the way in lifestyle.

[malkin]

I don't think early humans even survived into their 60s or 70s.

[emily_in_nc]

I do know women who have lost weight in their late 60s and early 70s. And others over 60 who remain quite slim.

There is definitely a subset of women who remain very lean even post-menopause. These seem to be the natural ectomorphs. Some are runners, some don't even exercise all that much, they just seem to have a different type of metabolism and body chemistry than the majority of women. If you look at a cross-section of women in their 50s and beyond in the US (and I found this true in Belize as well), a lot more women seem to be overweight than men. Many women don't eat all that much, and while it's true that some of the gain is certainly due to getting less physical activity as they age, there seems to be more to it than that. The vast majority of my high school friends and acquaintances have put on weight since high school. The ones who are still "skinny" were always very thin and low in body fat all those years and seem to be blessed with a very lucky metabolism -- they just don't have to work at it all that hard.

[Crankin]

True, but I also think a lot of it is lifestyle, and to a degree, access to activity/economics. I've recently become reacquainted with several people I grew up with. None of them are overweight. In fact, they all look great. Every single one of them either goes to the gym almost daily, and/or runs, rides, or swims outdoors. Since we are all turning 60 this year, it's interesting. In fact, more of the guys looks overweight and "old." I can give a more detailed report in June, when we are having a 60th birthday celebration for everyone. I am going to get to see some people I haven't seen since 1969, when I moved away. My observation is based on Facebook pictures, and seeing people at the 40th reunion, 2 years ago.

[OakLeaf]

Well, considering that higher weight is correlated with LOWER morbidity in older people, I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing. You noticed how the article barely touched on that and explicitly glossed over it.

Sure, we still have to deal with all the cultural messages about not being thin at the same time that we're learning to deal with the cultural messages about not being young. :( :mad: I'm not saying it isn't an emotional struggle, because it is a huge one. But I think people do a lot of physical harm to themselves fighting what their bodies want to do.

[GLC1968]

I'm curious as to why our bodies evolved this way. Is there a benefit to the additional fat? Protecting more fragile bones, perhaps? Or is it just a consequence of things breaking down over time?

I think it's not that we evolved to be this way in our later years but that after menopause, our biological importance to our species is kind of null. I think that estrogen kept our fat to our thighs and hips and away from the middle of the body as protection during child bearing years. After that time is over, that protection is biologically unnecessary.

That said, the article did mention how this is a problem for women who had no difficulty keeping weight off when younger. I wonder if the study results would be different if they looked at women (like me) who have had to battle the bulge their whole life just to maintain 'normal'? I mean, I don't notice any difference in my ability to maintain my body shape from when I was 18 (still just as difficult!). Other women my age talk about how their metabolism changed after 30 (or whenever).

In my mid-thirties, I had my estrogen shut down for about a year and I was stunned and how quickly my body changed. I didn't get fatter - but the fat distribution changed rapidly. It took some getting used to on my part (because my clothes no longer fit the same), but after awhile, I kind of liked it. I finally had slimmer legs and a waist that would fit into woman's pants without alterations! :eek:

[shootingstar]

All of my female friends whom I'm still in touch with for the last 30 years and who are all in their 50's like myself, none of them have any health problems at this time. But it's because they have each consciously done something to change their diet /include more exercise in their lifestyle over the past few decades. The weight changes have not been visibly different/worse because they have taken action.

None of these friends know one another nor do we all meet as one gang for dinner, etc.
We spend no more than15 min. or less talking about stuff in this area. There just isn't time since we're too busy catching up on news over the next fews hrs. together. I prefer not to spend a huge amount of time with my closest female friends obsessing about our weight etc. and that we individually have found ways to make lifestyle changes with some degree of success. And we express support to one another in such efforts. Our time together is pretty short and not often..