Why Menopause Women Have Big Bellies

Due to the change in hormonal balance that occurs during the menopause transition, there is increase in visceral fat more commonly called belly fat in middleaged women.

The reason for the increase in visceral fat during this period in a women’s lifetime is due to levels of active testosterone most closely linked with abdominal fat.

The fat in the abdominal cavity was measured with CT scans, a more precise measurement than waist size. Blood tests were used to assess levels of testosterone and estradiol( the main form of estrogen), but as per medical research, there are other health factors responsible for increase in visceral fat. Testosterone that is active in the body was the strongest predictor of visceral fat.

A woman’s age does not relate with the amount of visceral fat nor cardiovascular risk factors. The level of estradiol does not bore much relationship to the amount of visceral fat.

Visceral fat surrounding internal organs around the waistline is metabolically different from subcutaneous fat, which is fat located beneath the skin. It also contributes to premature atherosclerosis and risk of cute coronary syndrome.