Thick in the Middle: Taking A Stand on Belly Fat in Menopause

Excess fat around the waist is common in women as they transition into menopause. Caused by a change in hormone levels during perimenopause and into menopause, body fat redistributes from your hips, thighs and buttocks to the abdomen.

There are two types of belly fat. The fat we see is subcutaneous fat and the fat we don’t see, buried deeply underneath is visceral fat. The latter can cause some serious health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer.

Here are 3 things you can do to combat it:

1. Portion control

   As your metabolism slows down, slow down your food intake to compensate. A good strategy is eating smaller meals more often.

2. Focus on healthier foods

   This is nothing new. You’ll look and feel better if you eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and fewer carbs, especially white bread and pasta.

3. Increase your movement

   Yoga or Pilates works the core and is most effective when combined with a combination of high and low intensity cardio and lifting weights a couple times a week.

You know you will look and feel better without the extra distribution of fat, so keep that picture in mind and use it for motivation. Then, reward yourself periodically for your achievement with something you enjoy, like a new outfit or accessory!