IT’S ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE worries for women in midlife alongside joint aches and pains: “meno-belly” – aka stubborn weight that accumulates around the midsection during perimenopause. ‘It’s caused by a multitude of factors, specifically hormonal changes. Oestrogen and progesterone levels decrease rapidly during menopause, which leads to redistribution of body fat, particularly to the abdominal area,’ says Kate.
‘Pre-menopause, oestrogen lowers insulin – the “fat-storing” hormone that tells the body to store excess sugar in fat cells. As oestrogen depletes, more insulin is created, which converts sugar and starchy carbs into weight around the middle,’ says Kate. ‘Also, fat cells produce a little oestrogen, which the body wants to cling on to.’
Other factors contribute, including stress, which triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that increases insulin…
