Menopause is a point in time 12 months after a woman's last period. The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause. The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55.
Weight Distribution: After the age of 45, many women notice changes in their body shape, particularly an increase in abdominal fat. This shift can be attributed to hormonal changes and a slower metabolism, making it vital for women to maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet.
As you age, says Harvard Medical School, you lose fat volume around your face, and what once appeared smooth and taut and round will begin elongate and sag. Yes, there are inevitable wrinkles, but, believe it or not, you'll also notice the sagging on your ears, your jawline, your nose, and underneath your eyes.
Menopause can happen in your 40s or 50s, but the average age is 51 in the United States. Menopause is a natural biological process. But the physical symptoms, such as hot flashes, and emotional symptoms of menopause may disrupt your sleep, lower your energy or affect emotional health.
The first sign of the menopause is usually a change in the normal pattern of your periods. You may start having either unusually light or heavy periods. The frequency of your periods may also be affected. You may have one every two or three weeks, or you may not have one for months at a time.
Premature menopause and early menopause, whether spontaneous or induced, are associated with long-term health risks which may include premature death, cardiovascular disease, neurologic disease, osteoporosis, psychosexual dysfunction, and mood disorders.
Causes of weight gain in midlife
On average, women aged between 45 and 55 years gain around half a kilo per year. As you get older, you lose muscle mass, which slows your metabolism and causes weight gain. So if your diet doesn't change, you are likely to gain weight.
Apart from varying greatly in length, an irregular period can also include a cycle which occurs more frequently than every 21 days or less frequently than every 35 days. If you are in your 40s and experiencing an irregular period, it is very likely a sign of Perimenopause.
There is no standard definition for the term elderly. According to the United States Social Security Administration, anyone age 65 or older is elderly.
middle age, period of human adulthood that immediately precedes the onset of old age. Though the age period that defines middle age is somewhat arbitrary, differing greatly from person to person, it is generally defined as being between the ages of 40 and 60.
Fat tissue starts to gather near your body's center as you age. For women nearing menopause, weight loss can be tricky since the body makes less estrogen, which impacts weight. Still, losing weight after 40 is possible. Incorporating some of these tips for losing and maintaining body weight can help.
Most people begin to notice a shift in the appearance of their face around their 40's and 50's, with some also noticing a change in their 30's. But with these physical changes brought on by aging also comes a change in the appearance of our face - Luckily, there is treatment available.
Take Workout Classes. Workout classes aren't just great for your health—they can also help you keep a youthful appearance. Scheduling a few a week—whether that's yoga, HIIT, or spinning—will help you get into shape and feel great in your own skin, making you glow from the inside-out.
Eating a healthy diet rich in complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and whole grains, exercising regularly, and managing stress levels are essential for reducing hormonal belly fat.
The only reliable sign that perimenopause is ending is infrequent periods. As a person approaches menopause, their periods will become further apart and eventually stop entirely. Doctors consider a person to be nearing the end of perimenopause when their periods are more than 60 days apart .
Less muscle mass
The loss of muscle mass mentioned above also decreases the number of calories we need to maintain or lose weight, says Goddard. “Additionally, insulin resistance that results from fat deposition in the mid-section can also make losing weight more difficult.
Women who have early menopause have a shorter overall life expectancy and are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) earlier in life compared with women who have menopause at a typical or later age, according to a study published in Menopause.
After adjusting for confounders, women with earlier menopause showed a higher risk of all-cause dementia compared with those ≥50 years (adjusted-HRs [95% CIs]: 1.21 [1.09–1.34] and 1.71 [1.38–2.11] in the 40–49 years and <40 years groups, respectively; P for trend <0.001).