Women going through menopause may gain weight. Those who want to lose weight may have more difficulty than usual and losing weight becomes a challenge.

After menopause, the body's cells store more fat and fat metabolism slows down. Menopause does not cause weight gain, but weight gain can occur with age and increased abdominal fat distribution is associated with hormonal changes during perimenopause. Excess weight gain in midlife is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Low estrogen levels can slow down your metabolism, which is the rate at which your body converts stored energy into energy for activity. Lack of estrogen can also make your body use carbohydrates and blood sugar less efficiently, causing your body to store more fat, making it harder to lose weight, especially around the time of menopause.

In women, menopause and weight gain seem to go hand in hand, especially since weight gain is so common in women after menopause. About 30% of women aged 50-59 are not only overweight but may also be obese.