This can very insidiously happen. Your youthful body is taking the place of a pooch here and a bulge there. The metabolism that once let you eat your favorite food without regret seems to have deserted you. Then you don’t look or feel like yourself anymore.
A number of women over 40 are trying to lose weight as some of them are in their lives for the first time. When perimenopause takes hold, a foreign appearance replaces the body and form you are familiar with, one that is heavily affected by changing hormones and slowing metabolism. You’re not doomed to survive on those extra pounds. Today, more tools are available than ever to help you look and sound as you age, and with the right approaches, you can make weight loss for over 40 a possibility. Visit a weight loss clinic to know what problems you are suffering from before determining your weight loss program.
Problems That Occur After 40s
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Estrogen Levels Drop – When women enter menopause, they start losing the protective effect of estrogen against abdominal weight gain, also creating a perceptible change in the makeup of their bodies. But the weight gain mechanisms are complex; when fat position changes, metabolism often slows” sometimes dramatically. Additionally, findings show that estrogen deficiency due to reduced physical activity is related to decreased energy expenditure. In other words; you don’t burn as many calories as you used to, so more effort might be required to increase physical activity to make up for the difference.
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Thyroid Condition Deteriorates – Hypothyroidism is a common cause of sudden weight gain and brings with it other symptoms linked to sluggish metabolism including constipation, dry skin, memory and fatigue issues, irregular menstruation, or miscarriage. Hypothyroidism is far more common in women than in men, with the highest risk faced by women over 50 years old. For this reason, some experts suggest thyroid screening for women at age 35 and every five years thereafter before their first birth, then every one to two years after age 50. Finding the right thyroid hormone replacement regimen can have a significant effect on the health of a woman and can assist with weight loss of more than 40.
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Cortisol – Cortisol has a diverse effect on body weight. Cortisol is secreted as our primary stress hormone, by the adrenal glands above the kidneys. It controls our vital “fight or flight” reflex as our physiological reaction to danger and stress along with the sympathetic nervous system. This vital hormone controls our energy stores by growing blood sugar if necessary, controlling inflammation, regulating blood pressure, and affecting our process of sleep/wake. Surplus cortisol may lead to over-consumption of comfort foods with consequent abdominal weight gain when stress levels are chronically high, as they are for many mid-life females.
In women over 40, a number of other factors may also lead to weight gain and challenge weight loss attempts. This includes medications such as steroids and antidepressants, high-calorie intake, chronic lack of sleep, and difficulties of mobility or health conditions that require a sedentary lifestyle.
You can book your appointment with us if you are looking for a weight loss clinic in OKC.
**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.
