Why Do Women's Waists Increase During Perimenopause?

Perimenopause, also called menopause transition, is the female reproductive stage leading up to menopause. A woman has officially entered menopause when she goes for one year without having a menstrual period; the four to 10 years before this occurrence can be filled with many uncomfortable symptoms, including hot flashes, irritability, lack of sexual desire, vaginal dryness and sleep disruption. Another common complaint during perimenopause is weight gain, particularly around the midsection. There are specific causes for this disconcerting phenomenon.

Decrease in Estrogen

• Estrogen is the hormone that causes females to ovulate. When women enter perimenopause, their body's fertility decreases and the estrogen production drastically reduces. Fat cells also produce estrogen, so the body converts more calories to fat in an attempt to restore normal estrogen levels. This process can cause noticeable weight gain.

Decrease in Progesterone

• Progesterone levels also decrease during perimenopause, as a result women will retain water weight and feel bloated in their mid-section. Although water retention and bloating doesn't actually cause women to gain weight, it may cause their clothes to feel tighter and their bodies to feel heavier. This symptom typically lasts only a few months.

Increase in Androgen

• During her fertile years, a woman's weight is distributed to their breasts, hips and thighs rather than her midsection. When fertility decreases during perimenopause, the body begins to increase its production of the androgen hormone. Androgen re-distributes weight from the hips and thighs to the midsection. This is often referred to as the "middle aged spread." This change in a woman's figure is a notoriously frustrating effect of perimenopause.

Decrease in Testosterone

• During perimenopause, women produce less testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for converting calories into muscle mass. When muscle cells burn calories, they increase the body's metabolism. When testosterone is decreased in a perimenopausal woman, her muscle mass decreases. This in turn lowers her metabolism and increases her fat cell production.

Increase in Cortisol

• The increase of cortisol, or the "stress" hormone, has been linked to perimenopause. This hormone causes a "famine" effect in the body, which makes it think it's in starvation mode. When the body thinks it's starving, it stores all the calories it receives.

Embrace the Weight Gain

• Although it can be disconcerting to gain weight during perimenopause, the un-shed pounds can add necessary health benefits. Added weight often lessens the perimenopausal symptoms of anxiety and hot flashes, as well as protects against osteoporosis and other harmful diseases. Women should make sure to eat a healthy and balanced diet, avoid refined sugars and keep active with exercise.