The hormonal transition causes women to shift toward an apple-shaped silhouette, gaining an average of two to three kilograms despite diet and exercise efforts. The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation highlights that lean muscle loss and fat gain peak between two years before and two years after the final menstrual period. Sleep disruptions compound these issues by altering leptin and melatonin levels, which reduces insulin sensitivity. Crucially, research from Singapore reveals that Chinese, Malay, and Indian women face heightened risks because lower subcutaneous fat levels cause visceral fat to accumulate dangerously around internal organs even at normal body mass indexes.
Key points
Asian women can accumulate dangerous visceral fat around vital organs despite appearing s…: Asian women can accumulate dangerous visceral fat around vital organs despite appearing slim or maintaining a healthy body mass index.
Deep abdominal fat accumulation substantially elevates long-term risks for metabolic comp…: Deep abdominal fat accumulation substantially elevates long-term risks for metabolic complications, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Caloric restriction and extra exercise often fail to counter midlife weight gain due to h…: Caloric restriction and extra exercise often fail to counter midlife weight gain due to hormonal shifts and an age-related loss of muscle mass.
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The “menopause belly” isn’t just a cosmetic concern. Hormonal changes, muscle loss and poor sleep can contribute to it while Asian women may be more prone to visceral fat and its health risks. Here’s what women can do about it.
Putting on weight seems to be inevitable as you get older. What’s more frustrating for midlife women is that exercising more and eating less has little effect on that weight, which – more frustratingly – tends to accumulate around the mid-section.
There’s a name for it: menopause belly, or meno belly.
“Menopause belly refers to the accumulation of excess fat around the abdomen, particularly visceral fat, which surrounds the internal organs,” explained Professor Yong Eu Leong, emeritus consultant at the division of Benign Gynaecology, department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at National University Hospital (NUH).
He added: “During the menopausal transition, many women experience a shift from a pre-menopausal pear-shaped body, where fat is stored around the hips, thighs and buttocks, to a more apple-shaped body, where fat is concentrated around the waist.” On average, women gain about 2-3kg during this…
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