Many women who are undergoing HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy report a sudden gain in weight and because the two things coincide the automatic assumption is that they are somehow linked. Many researchers believe that there is no connection between middle aged spread and HRT and that the resulting weight gain is more down to the inactivity after the full or partial hysterectomy and not necessarily hormone related.
The fact is that during the menopause equal numbers of women report weight gain as do not and this is regardless of them being given HRT or not. This is quite strong evidence that there is no link between the two and that this middle age spread that occurs is more than likely caused by other factors around general aging and nothing to do with hormone replacement therapy.
There is typically no more than 4-5lbs of weight gain that can be attributed to HRT and it is also worth remembering that HRT only replaces the hormones that your body would naturally produce anyway only in a much lower concentration, so this could also back up the lack of real evidence that there is a link between midlife weight gain and hormone replacement therapy.
Let us also remember that men also report the onset of middle aged spread around the same time and their hormones do not run riot in the same way as a woman’s do.
What nobody can question is that a good diet and a sensible amount of exercise will always combat any weight gain, including middle age spread or HRT related problems. Just 20 minutes per day either walking, a gentle jog or home exercise will make a world of difference. Just cutting down on one snack per day can also reap benefits plus once you get into a settled routine then it becomes easier and give you a much needed boost too.
Are you on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)? BeatMiddle Age Spread today! Desperate to stopMidLife Weight Gain in it’s tracks?