Low progesterone levels during menopause can cause weight gain, water retention, and food cravings. Hormone replacement therapy with synthetic progesterone can also lead to weight gain. A balanced diet with high-fiber foods and limited caffeine intake can help break the link between progesterone and weight gain.
Despite a healthy diet and regular exercise, many women gain weight between the ages of 35 and 55. This is often caused by a hormonal imbalance. Research shows that progesterone hormone levels and weight gain are closely related.
As a woman enters menopause, her progesterone levels drop. Lower levels of this female sex hormone can be responsible for many menopausal symptoms, including both weight gain and the feeling or appearance of it, even if no weight has actually been gained. A menopausal woman often holds back water. Water weight and bloating are caused by decreased progesterone levels. This may not actually lead to fat gain, but a woman’s clothes may feel a little tighter and she may feel heavier.
Low progesterone levels can also cause a woman’s blood sugar levels to fluctuate. When this happens, she may feel hungrier and eat more. You may also be tempted to eat more sugary foods, resulting in weight gain. Low progesterone levels can also slow down the metabolism, meaning a woman can gain weight by eating the same calories as before.
Another relationship between progesterone and weight gain comes from mood swings which are often the result of a hormonal imbalance. When the levels of serotonin and endorphins in the brain drop, a woman can experience mood swings, depression and anxiety. When this happens, a woman instinctively turns to foods like chocolate to boost her serotonin levels. When a woman goes through menopause, she may experience food cravings similar to those often experienced as part of PMS. Unlike PMS, her hormones don’t return to normal levels because the imbalance remains, so food cravings can last longer than they used to, forcing her to eat more foods leading to weight gain.
Another connection between progesterone and weight gain may come from hormone replacement therapy. A doctor may prescribe progesterone, along with estrogen, to minimize menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and fibroids. Progesterone comes in two forms, natural and synthetic. Synthetic progesterone has several side effects, including weight gain, fluid retention, breast tenderness, and migraines; it can also put a woman at greater risk for heart disease. Although natural progesterone has fewer side effects, not everyone can take it, including women with peanut allergies.
A person can help break the link between progesterone and weight gain by eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and other high-fiber foods. Intake of caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and sodas, should also be limited. These can make water retention worse.
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