Do women change shape/put on weight at menopause?

[moondog]

As my boss asserts they do.
Or is she making excuses re troughing?

no, but it does make you post things too many times

no i think there is a gradual collapse from about 35 on (am 39). i exercise fiercely to keep it at bay but a losing battle.

Maybe.

I have read that all women become apple shaped because weight is re-distributed. See Miriam Stoppard's Menopause book

Yes, it happens to monkeys too. The hormonal changes increase appetite (oestrogen suppresses appetite) so you are genuinely much more hungry, and also appears to affect both the amount of fat laid down and where it put (ie round the middle instead of round the hips)
report on study here209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:Po698EHQyGgJ:www.health24.com/dietnfood/Weight_Centre/15-51-2954-2958, 26431.asp+oestrogen+weight+gain+monkey+study&cd=18&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

moondog you are so harsh. let her trough

yup - I used to be an hourglass and now find that although I am a bit heavier than I have been it's all round my middle ...

Can't work out if I've got a fatter tum or whether it's just because my norks are resting on it now

Yes, I've got fat bits under my bra. I woke up one day and there they were .

I can sympathise - I went off to get properly measured as per the MN rules. They are now hoicked up enough to leave a gap between them and my stomach, but I have another pair around the back!

Yes they do. Have read several menopause books and apparently all women become apple shaped at menopause. I've always been tall and slimmish. Since turning 48 I've got a fat belly I've never had before even after two kids. Seemed to come on over night. Also got fat on back! And on the nape of my neck! My legs and arms are still slim. I have always had a tall boyish shape really with a bust that has increased by at least a cup size lately. I haven't put on a lot of weight it seems to have moved. Like Alien. The belly is a real pain. Gets in the way doing yoga. Makes clothes really hard to fit. You have to buy a bigger size for the waist and swim in fabric everywhere else. Good news is it can be disguised with longer draped tops. As my bottom, legs and arms still slim I still appear tall and slim. That's what I'm telling myself anyway!

I can sympathise too. I have put on about 6lbs since meno, though I am on HRT.
It's all round my belly- have gone from a 10 to almost a 12 in some trousers.

All I can suggest is that you eat less and exercise more- I walk/jog 3 miles a day if I can. Last week I lost 2lbs after eating very little, then had a weekend of "normal eating" - ie cheesecake and normal size portions, and the 2lbs went back on in 2 days- WTF!!!

I have never had to work so hard to maintain my weight.

does taking hrt make weight gain worse or better...also do all the joints in your body ache?

I personally think lots of ailments are blamed on the menopause. I have gained weight, but since my children left school I drive everywhere and now I work in an office I sit at a desk all day and trough snack a lot - can't blame the menopause for that. I've never had a hot flush, I sleep well, I'm no more irritable than before and I still have an 'hourglass' shape - I've always had a small waist. I'm not on HRT now, but I did take it for 10 years to help prevent osteoporosis because my menopause started when I was in my thirties. Maybe I'm just lucky.

Bubble1 - I didn't find my joints ached when I was taking HRT, you'd need to tell your GP about that.

Don't know about changing shape, but definately put on weight.
I've been lucky and stayed a consistent 9 stone before and after 3 dc but since the menopause started have suddenly started gaining weight. Never had to watch what I eat before , but will have to now and I hate it.