The threat of menopause weight gain is a very real issue facing millions of women every day. Weight gain for women is an issue without having to contend with menopause yet many seem to accept increasing weight as being inevitable.

It doesn't have to be. There are some precautions you can take to avoid putting on those extra pounds. To understand menopause weight gain, you first need to understand what causes it. Here's a short list:

- lack of estrogen production because of a slow down in the metabolism
- increase in appetite and fat retention because of hormone replacement therapy
- a natural slow down in a woman's metabolism
- no exercise or little desire to exercise because of depression and mood swings
- also increased appetite again because of mood swings and other menopause related symptoms

Decreased Metabolism

The connection between the slowing down of a woman's metabolism and the lack of estrogen production is interesting. Although there are cases when the opposite happens, most of the time women put on weight rather than thin down as they experience a higher appetite coupled with the low body metabolism rate.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Increasing estrogen levels through hormone replacement therapy doesn't mean a stop of weight gain. In actual fact, it can have the reverse effect. Why? HRT has been found to cause sudden bouts of hunger as a result of which there is considerable weight gain. It is good during this time to keep a close watch on what your eating habits are; cut down on fat intake and raise your fiber intake.

Avoiding Menopause Weight Gain

There are several steps you can take to either avoid or reverse menopause weight gain. Here are just a few:

- Take part in physical activity. Exercise is important during the menopausal stage more so than pre-menopause. Walking and aerobic exercise can boost your metabolism rate while weight training not only increases your muscle mass but it can also strengthen your bone structure.

- Watch your diet. It's as simple as that. Decreasing the number of calories you consume is vital although a severe reduction can cause problems such as forcing your body to conserve energy. Fruits and vegetables are a great start while fiber based foods can be extremely beneficial. Lowering fat intake is a must.

Avoiding or reversing menopause weight gain is a reality and it's really up to you to do something about it. There is really no sense in deciding it's inevitable. If you are still a little unclear about how to start on a weight reduction program then make an appointment to see your doctor. It could be the best 30 minutes you've invested in your time.