Posts Tagged ‘Gain’

Copyright (c) 2009 Neal Spruce

Menopause and weight gain

Menopause is defined as the end of menstruation. The postmenopausal period is associated with symptoms such as hot flashes, changes in libido and weight gain. In America, the typical woman reaches menopause at just over 51 years of age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2005, the average American woman reaching age 50 could expect to live another 30 years. The weight a woman gains while she’s in menopause is weight she may well struggle with for the rest of her life. Does being menopausal doom you to weight gain? Is losing weight after menopause harder than it would be before menopause? In this article, we’ll take a look at these issues and go a little more in depth about the times in their lives when women are the most likely to gain weight.

The typical American woman will experience numerous changes in body shape during her life, specifically just after high school, childbearing and menopause. The culprit for young women is often a significant decrease in activity after high school leading to the infamous “Freshman 15″. , Pregnancy is an obvious time for weight gain, but most women reach their pre-pregnancy weight within six months of giving birth – at least after their first child.1 The women in both scenarios can change their weight or body fat by eating less and moving more. See Weight Control 101 for a complete discussion.

The common belief with menopause is that the decrease in female hormones somehow leads to a slower metabolism or increased body fat. Several studies have evaluated whether there is a specific change around menopause that leads to weight gain, or at least makes it easier. These studies have shown that the biggest change affecting body weight around menopause is a reduction in activity. This is a common theme at various stages of a woman’s life. That is, a relatively steady or slight increase in calorie intake with decreasing activity over time. One strong predictor for obesity in a person’s life is age. Since the average woman gains about a pound yearly, it is much more likely that a middle-aged woman will be obese compared to a 20 year-old. Also, a woman with extra weight at adolescence is more likely to gain extra weight at other times such as her freshman year of college.

Some of the stronger studies on menopause looked at women of the same age who either still had periods or were in menopause. When pre and postmenopausal women are matched for age, menopausal women have 1. No difference in weight gain. Both pre and postmenopausal women gain weight. The difference is where the fat is stored.7 2. No difference in loss of lean mass compared to premenopausal women. Both lost muscle tissue with time. 3. An increase in central adiposity – more fat stored around the waist as opposed to the thighs or arms. 4. No change in body composition. It seems the biggest effect of decreased estrogen is where fat is stored, not that more fat is stored. 5. A possible small decrease in resting metabolic rate (RMR) from decreased estrogen, but not enough of a difference that menopausal women gain more weight.7

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Some women take medication to replace the hormones lost from menopause. Women often ask if weight gain is something they can expect as a side effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). A three-year study found that there was no increase in body weight among HRT users compared to placebo regardless if they used estrogen or estrogen and progesterone combined.9 Women should discuss HRT with a physician who will assess any risk of hormone-dependent cancers.

In summary, menopause only means women will no longer have periods. It does not mean the body slows down to the point a woman is destined to gain weight. Postmenopausal women can lose weight just like premenopausal women. When postmenopausal women lose weight, they can lose both subcutaneous (under the skin) and visceral (around the organs) fat as easily as premenopausal women. This means postmenopausal women can reverse any weight gain. In addition, weight loss among postmenopausal women is accompanied by the same improvements in cholesterol and reduced insulin resistance. This results in a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes. Women can both prevent gaining weight and achieve better overall health during menopause by engaging in regular physical activity.

References–
Beckman C, Ling F, Smith R, Barzansky B, Herbert W, Laube D. Obstetrics and Gynecology. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Philadelphia PA: 2006; 810p. pp. 128, 375.
Kung HC, Hoyert DL, Xu J, Murphy SL. Life expectancy at selected ages by race and sex: United States, 2005 in: Deaths Final Data for 2005. National Vitals Statistics Reports 56(10) Accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr56/nvsr56_10.pdf September 2008.
Jung ME, Bray SR, Martin Ginis KA. Behavior change and the freshman 15: tracking physical activity and dietary patterns in 1st-year university women. J Am Coll Health. 2008 Mar-Apr;56(5):523-30.
Holm-Denoma JM, Joiner TE, Vohs KD, Heatherton TF. The “freshman fifteen” (the “freshman five” actually): predictors and possible explanations. Health Psychol. 2008 Jan;27(1 Suppl):S3-9.
Mihalopoulos NL, Auinger P, Klein JD. The Freshman 15: is it real? J Am Coll Health. 2008 Mar-Apr;56(5):531-3.
Simkin-Silverman LR, Wing R. WEIGHT GAIN DURING MENOPAUSE: Is it inevitable or can it be prevented? Postgrad Med. 2000 Sept; 108(3): 47-52.
Mazzali G, Di Francesco V, Zoico E, Fantin F, Zamboni G, Benati C, Bambara V, Negri M, Bosello O, Zamboni M. Interrelations between fat distribution, muscle lipid content, adipocytokines, and insulin resistance: effect of moderate weight loss in older women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Nov;84(5):1193-9.
Effects of estrogen or estrogen/progestin regimens on heart disease risk factors in postmenopausal women. The Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) Trial. The Writing Group for the PEPI Trial. JAMA. 1995 Jan 18;273(3):199-208.

No matter what your reason is for wanting to gain weight, here’s a simple fact: The majority of teens have no reason — medical or otherwise — to try to gain weight. An effort

like this will at best simply not work and at worst increase your body fat, putting you at risk for health problems.
So focus on growing strong, not gaining weight. Keeping your body healthy and fit so that it grows well is an important part of your job as a teen.

Why is weight gain important during pregnancy?

The extra weight you gain during pregnancy provides nourishment to your developing baby and is also stored for breastfeeding your baby after delivery.
you should gain 25–35 pounds over the nine months. Adding about 300 extra calories a day to your diet will help you reach this goal. (One extra healthy snack, such as four fig
bars and a glass of skim milk, will provide these calories.) Most women gain four to six pounds in the first trimester, and then average a pound a week in the second and third
trimesters.

You should gain weight gradually during your pregnancy, with most of the weight gained in the last 3 months. Many doctors suggest women gain weight at the following rate:
·    2 to 4 pounds total during the first 3 months (first trimester)
·    3 to 4 pounds per month during the 4th to 9th months (second and third trimesters)

Consume more calories
It includes few calculations. The estimated common daily caloric requirement for an average man who makes light activity is 2,200 and for women, it is about 1,900. One should consume about 1,000 more calories in a day to get less than half a kilo weekly. Skinny people must eat bigger portions of the meal and try to take minimum 5 meals daily.

One’s exact caloric requirement can be varied depending on the activity level, height, weight and metabolic rate of body.

Eat healthily
As well as eating regularly, it’s important to eat healthily. Your diet will be balanced if you eat foods from the five main food groups in the right amounts.
·    Carbohydrates like bread, pasta and potatoes should make up about one third of your diet.
·    You should aim to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.
·    About one fifth of what you eat each day should be protein – choose from meat, fish and eggs, or beans and nuts.
·    You should aim to get 700mg of calcium each day, roughly the same as a pint of milk or two small yoghurts. You can also get calcium from soya milk and yoghurts with

added calcium, and from leafy green vegetables.
·    Fatty or sugary foods like butter, chocolate, crisps and cakes should make up the smallest part of your diet.

Try to make the best selections
One should try to make the best selections about foods. For instance, one should select meat and fish over bread and dairy products. Skinny person must take large amount of
fresh fruits and vegetables. One should consume foods that contain high protein like peas, beans and pulses and foodstuffs with high starch substance like tapioca, potatoes and
rice.

Unexplained Weight Gain
Most people who gain weight are taking in more calories per day than they are using. If you are gaining weight despite eating fewer calories and maintaining your usual amount of physical activity, this guide is for you.
This is not a diet and exercise guide. It will not address issues of weight gain related to eating too much or not getting enough exercise.

Although many people are now into the idea of losing weight, there are still those who focus on how to gain weight. The reasons behind the want to gain weight usually vary form one person to another but the fact remains that there are still those who would want to increase their body volume while the majority of the people in the society are dying to lose some.

Today, with all the shifts in the modern society, it is really hard to tell how long frenzy will take. If you are one of those people who are confused which fitness trend to follow, read on so you can have a grasp of which is really best for you.

Why gain weight?

Gaining weight has never been a trend until now.

Why? Since the commercialization of slim figures and thin frames by magazines and the by the fashion industry, the society has always considered being thin as sexy and more acceptable.

But now, more and more people are getting into weight gain for various reasons. One of the reasons why some people would like to gain weight is for their health. It has always been a fact that proper food intake is one of the key reasons to maintaining good health.

This is because the nutrients from the foods people eat give them the energy needed to sustain a healthy body. Studies show that many people would like to gain weight because they believe that having higher body mass is a good indicator of good health.

Another reason why some people would like gain weight is they would like to top avoid or recover from various eating-related disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. People especially girls would now like to gain weight so they won’t be mistaken to suffer from an eating or emotional disorder.

Bodybuilding is also another major reason why people regardless of gender, race, or status gain weight. These people are those who believe that having muscular frame is sexy and the best thing for them. Experts say that people who are into bodybuilding should really gain weight so their bodies will have so much to burn while they are doing rigorous workouts and training required in body building.

Pregnancy among women is also another major reason why they need to gain weight. Weight gain is very important to women who are conceiving because this ensures healthy and successful pregnancy. Experts say that weight gain is inevitable for pregnant women because this where she and the fetus inside rely for sufficient nutrients. Pregnant women should never hesitate to gain weight during this event in their lives because proper food intake and ideal body mass will determine the outcome of the pregnancy.

TIP – For women who are so afraid of gaining weight due to pregnancy, they should focus their mind on the condition of the fetus inside their bellies and not of their own. If they do this, they will have more motivation to eat healthy and achieve the ideal weight for their individual needs.

People are also looking forward to gain weight because it is a requirement for a certain job. Although this reason are confined to those who need jobs such as freelance bouncers in a private bar or concert, in house fitness guru, body building trainer and the like, more and more people are gaining weight so they can get a job where they can earn money as well as achieve satisfaction and fulfillment.

Not every pregnant woman is going to gain the same amount of weight, nor will they gain at the same rate. Obviously every woman – and pregnancy – is unique! However, it’s important to follow a few guidelines to help keep you on track and aware.

Maintaining a healthy weight will not only be beneficial to you, but also to your baby. It will also help to avoid certain illnesses related to pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes.

How Much Weight Should Be Gained During Pregnancy?

An average-weight woman should gain between 25 and 35 pounds throughout the entire pregnancy. Overweight Women should aim to gain a little less – about 15 pounds, and underweight women should aim for a little more – about 35-45 pounds.

Pregnant women expecting multiples will probably gain more weight than those carrying only one baby.

How Should the Weight Be Gained?

The term “eating for two” is misleading, and unhealthy. Despite the fact that there is another human growing inside of you, you do not require twice the amount of food you once did prior to being pregnant. Following this method will only put much more weight on than necessary. In general, an extra 300 calories per day is recommended. Make these calories count by focusing on healthier food choices.

Where Does the Weight Go?

The pounds gained throughout the entire pregnancy are distributed as follows:

Baby – 7-8 pounds
Placenta – 2-3 pounds
Amniotic Fluid – 2-3 pounds
Breast Tissue – 2-3 pounds
Blood Supply – 2-3 pounds
Uterus – 4 pounds
Fat – 2-5 pounds
Total – 25-35 pounds

Some women may not actually gain any weight during the first trimester, especially if they are nauseous. Others may gain quite a bit at first. Trimester 2 and 3 will (or should!) have a more even weight gain rate.

Weekly Weight Gain Rate

Follow this guide to see how much weight gained per week is ideal. Remember that this is only an average! The numbers stated below are a range:  

2 weeks – 1-4 pounds
4 weeks – 3-6 pounds
6 weeks – 3-7 pounds
8 weeks – 4-9 pounds
10 weeks – 4-11 pounds
12 weeks – 5-12 pounds
14 weeks – 5-14 pounds
16 weeks – 6-15 pounds
18 weeks – 7-16 pounds
20 weeks – 7-18 pounds
22 weeks – 8-19 pounds
24 weeks – 9-20 pounds
26 weeks – 10-21 pounds
28 weeks – 11-22 pounds
30 weeks – 13-24 pounds
32 weeks – 15-26 pounds
34 weeks – 17-28 pounds
36 weeks – 19-30 pounds
38 weeks – 21-32 pounds
40 weeks – 23-35 pounds

You’ll probably gain about 3 or 4 pounds per month, with a little weight gained near the end. Don’t be alarmed if no weight is gained in the last couple of weeks – this is common.

For more information, visit us at:  http://www.complete-pregnancy-guide.com

Many women who are taking birth control pills are very happy to avoid unintended pregnancy but are blaming oral contraceptives for weight gain and fluid retention at the same time. Well, it is the undeniable fact that pills do cause weight gain in some women but not necessarily be the prime cause for all women. It is very important to know if we can associate weight gain problem with birth control pills or if they cause fluid retention or if they cause increased appetite.

The recent studies taken on low-dose (low estrogen) pills have indicated the nominal change in the weight. Weight gain while taking pills could be possible in few but not necessarily be at alarming situation. If the weight gain is due to pills then it could be a temporary phenomena and certainly not permanent. Analysts have pointed out that 5-10% women adding few pounds while they are taking birth control pills but there is similar number of women who are gaining weight but not on pills at all. Weight gain could be due to fluid retention in the body (occurs other than the pills) and fat deposition. Some women may be sensitive to either of these and experience weight gain regardless of birth control pills.

How much weight gain could be possible on birth control pills?

It is usually argued that birth control pills, specially higher dose of estrogen pills (more than 30 mcgm), cause more weight than birth control injection like Depo Provera. Studies have revealed that women using high dose pills tend to gain 5.3 lb in a year compared to women who are taking Depo Provera as contraception and gaining 6.6 lb (2.2 kg) in a year’s time. However, analysts have further found that only 7% women who were taking pills got more than 10% of they body weight. But women who were taking shots for Depo Provera, 25% of them gained more than 10% of their body weight. If you compare 5.3 lb weight due to pills with 6.6 lb weight gained due to birth control injection, you will notice that not only women who are on birth control pills get lesser weight in a year than birth control injection method but also at lesser risk of weight gain.

Moreover, most of the recent studies on lower estrogen hormone based pills (30 mcgm or less) have shown weight loss or no change, if continued to take for a year.

But birth control pills may cause fluid retention, isn’t it true?

It can not denied that pills containing high doses of estrogen may cause fluid retention in the body, specially if the pill has 50 mcgm estrogen or more. How it happens? Well, high doses of estrogen stimulate kidney-substances like renin-angiotensin, which is responsible for water retention that again causes sodium (salt) retention that ultimately causes the weight gain. Studies on different levels of estrogen based birth control pills revealed that pills having less than 20 mcgm estrogen reduce weight, 30 mcgm pills make no difference in the weight or nominal loss of weight whereas 50 mcgm pills cause fluid retention and weight gain.

If you are on birth control pill and experiencing more than 5% of your body weight gain in a year, it may be due to your body’s reaction to insulin resistance or abnormal glucose metabolism. You need to consult your healthcare professional to adopt low carbohydrate diet because high amount of sugar in any meal will offset your weight control efforts.

Besides, low estrogen, what other types of birth control pills can affect on weight?

The combined pills containing desogestrel type of progestin and low dose of estrogen would cause very little weight gain compared to the pills containing norethindrone (like Ortho Novum 7/7/7®). This is possibly due to specific progestin causing weight gain mainly due to lesser insulin resistance. Low estrogen can be found in the birth control pills like Alesse, Loestrin Fe, Mircette etc. If you are experiencing weight gain or fluid retention symptoms from your present birth control pills, you can consult your healthcare professional or doctor to know which birth control pills are suitable for you.

You may also visit at http://www.mybirthcontrolstore.com/birth-control-pills.html to look at the comparative study of the different level of hormones used in various birth control pills. The above article is for general information on weight gain and fluid retention problems associated with birth control pills and should not be taken as medical advice. If it is so, please consult your doctor or physician for treatment purpose.