As the years go by, the body morphology changes and this is almost always accompanied by weight gain. We know that in France, women gain an average of 7.5 kg between the ages of 20 and 50.

In some women, weight increases gradually over the course of their lives. For others, each pregnancy leaves a few extra pounds. For others, this change will occur at menopause. Men are also concerned, even if it is in lesser proportion, it manifests itself especially in the abdominal area.

How can this be explained?

Women's bodies naturally have more fat than men's bodies. It is estimated that this adipose proportion is 18 to 25% of body mass, compared to only 10 to 15% in men. These fat reserves are located mainly on the thighs, hips and buttocks. These reserves have been genetically programmed for millennia. They ensured the survival and reproduction of the human species in case of famine. This is one of the reasons why women often have difficulty getting rid of these fatty deposits, which is not the case for men. These reserves, which were once a biological necessity, are no longer relevant in our affluent societies. Especially since current aesthetic criteria advocate slenderness, not to say thinness (see some fashion models), eternal youth and skin firmness.

This weight gain is partly explained by a decrease in basal metabolic rate. That is to say that because of the decrease in muscle mass, the body spends fewer calories to ensure the vital metabolic minimum. Since men have more muscle mass to begin with, they have a basal metabolic rate that consumes more energy. It is estimated that the decrease in muscle mass per 10 years of age in adulthood is 2 to 3%. And yet we often keep the same eating habits while the number of calories burned at rest decreases. It is for this reason that many nutritionists advise people over 50 to increase their protein intake in order to slow down muscle loss.

For women, a key stage seems to be menopause. It is known that the decrease in estrogen accelerates muscle loss, especially in the lower part of the body, which amplifies the phenomenon explained above. We then witness a change of silhouette that may seem inevitable. The thighs become slimmer while the waist and hips become more rounded.

Typical abdominal fat has a different structure than other fats. It would seem that its storage results from a deficiency of certain hepatic enzymes responsible for their metabolism. It is interesting to know that we can act on this type of enzymes thanks to food supplements.

It is absolutely essential to maintain physical activities in order to avoid sedentarization, while readapting one's diet. A study conducted in Geneva has shown that most women who practice 20 to 30 minutes of daily exercise (brisk walking, running...) avoid weight gain during this period of life.

It is obvious that other factors may be involved in this weight gain. This is why it is necessary to check that there is no other organic dysfunction such as hypothyroidism for example. Currently, this dysfunction of the thyroid gland is excessively frequent. On its own, it causes an increase in weight and is usually accompanied by unusual fatigue. This condition has been found to affect many women in their 50s. You should know that there are natural ways to regulate the thyroid gland and to act on the imbalance of the immune system sometimes responsible for this dysfunction.

Women in menopause and sometimes some men after 50 are also affected by bone loss (osteoporosis). This demineralization is also accompanied by a decrease in basal metabolism.

We cannot advise you enough to monitor your blood level of vitamin D, especially since we know that nearly 80% of Westerners are deficient in vitamin D!

Let's keep in mind that age-related weight gain is not inevitable, that we can easily adapt our diet to our body's energy needs and that everyone can practice light physical activity.