FAT GAIN AND RELAPSE: HORMONAL CHANGES
Menopause. Changes in hormonal status in females around menopause mean that there are likely to be changes in body composition. Postmenopausal females are likely to become more apple shaped, like males, but in many cases still maintain their body fat content around the hips and thighs. As with males, upper body fat is relatively more lipolytic and therefore responds easier to standard fat loss procedures in post-menopausal women. Hence, upper body fat loss should be no more difficult than for males, unlike the lower body fat stores of pre-menopausal women. It should be remembered, however, that there are natural decreases in metabolic rate with age and a tendency for older people to be less active and to eat more as they age. These changes need to be actively countered to prevent excessive fat gain in this stage of life.
Maintenance of muscle mass with the addition of some resistance training can help to reduce the impact of menopause. The use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also be useful for body composition maintenance in the post-menopausal period, although the type of hormonal mix and other factors may also play a part.
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