Menopause How to Get Rid of Menopause Belly By Kathi Valeii Kathi Valeii Kathi Valeii is a freelance writer covering the intersections of health, parenting, and social justice. Learn about our editorial process Published on March 02, 2022 Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD Monique Rainford, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, and currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale Medicine. She is the former chief of obstetrics-gynecology at Yale Health. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Causes Menopause Belly? Risks of Menopause Weight Gain How Do You Get Rid of It? Can You Prevent It? Frequently Asked Questions Menopause brings many bodily changes, one of which is weight gain, particularly in the midsection. Menopause weight gain is normal, but this doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to live with it. This article explains the causes and risks of menopause belly as well as safe ways to get rid of it. katleho Seisa / Getty Images What Causes Menopause Belly? Menopause weight gain centered in the midsection is common. That’s because, during this stage of life, age-related, hormonal, and lifestyle factors all contribute to weight gain. These factors include: Falling estrogen levels Less physical activity Sleep problems Slowing metabolism because of aging The Role of Estrogen in Your Body Risks of Menopause Weight Gain Although weight gain during and after menopause is normal, health risks associated with abdominal obesity include: Cancer Gallbladder disease Heart disease Hypertension (high blood pressure) Osteoarthritis Type 2 diabetes How Obesity Is Diagnosed How Do You Get Rid of Menopause Belly? Menopause weight gain can trigger negative body image feelings. You can take control of these feelings and improve your self-image by getting more exercise, eating a well-balanced diet, and managing stress. Exercise Exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy body, including a healthy weight. During menopause, it can help you lose belly fat. Researchers evaluated three studies on exercise as a weight-loss method in menopausal people. Participants who exercised and had dietary interventions were more likely than control group members to have lost weight, reduced their waist measurements, and decreased their body mass index (BMI) at 54 months. People often ask their healthcare provider about the "best" exercise to undertake. In fact, the best exercise is the one you enjoy doing. You're more likely to approach it with a positive attitude and stick with it. If you're still stumped, try cardiovascular exercises like walking, biking, endurance sports, and dancing to burn calories. Then add resistance activities, like weights, to build and preserve muscle mass. Use an Activity Tracker An activity tracker or step counter can be an excellent way to monitor your activity level throughout the day. By watching your activity, you can get an objective look at how active (or sedentary) you are. Then you can set informed goals for moving more. Diet As you age, you may find that you can’t consume as many calories as you used to without gaining weight. This means you’ll need to reduce your caloric intake, increase the calories you burn, or both to maintain or lose weight. Often, increasing the amount of plant-based foods you eat can help, such as eating more fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains while decreasing your meat intake. One study evaluated the effects of the Mediterranean diet on weight loss in people experiencing menopause. This diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and olive oil. The study found that a Mediterranean diet caused people to lose fat while maintaining muscle mass. Calorie-Burning Slows Down After menopause, people tend to burn at least 200 fewer calories per day. Managing Stress Stress appears to directly correlate to weight gain, specifically weight stored in the belly. Researchers have found that cortisol, a hormone released with stress, leads to the accumulation of fat in the abdomen. Therefore, reducing stress can reduce this effect. Stress often affects eating habits, as well. For example, when you feel stressed about your schedule, you may resort to eating more processed, prepared foods to save time. You may also turn more frequently to eating for comfort.To manage stress, consider any obligations you could let go of to reduce your mental load. And try incorporating mindfulness practices like yoga or meditation into your routine. Four Stress Management Tips for Relief Cosmetic Procedures Along with lifestyle changes, some people use medical interventions that target belly fat. These may include: Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) Liposuction Heed the Risks As with any surgery, cosmetic procedures to remove belly fat carry risks. These include risks associated with anesthesia, the surgery itself, and infection. Carefully consider all the pros and cons of cosmetic procedures. Can You Prevent Menopause Belly? Since belly fat is a common menopause symptom, it may not be entirely possible to prevent. This said, not everyone gains weight in the abdomen during menopause. However, the same tips for losing menopause belly apply to preventing it, too. Eating a nutritious diet, reducing caloric intake, increasing physical activity, and reducing stress can help you maintain a healthy weight as you go through menopause. How to Fix a Sedentary Lifestyle Summary A common menopause symptom is weight gain in the midsection. Low estrogen, reduced activity, and fewer calories burned as you age cause this added weight. Although expected, retaining excess weight in the abdomen carries health risks, so it's best to work to maintain a healthy weight as you approach or go through menopause. To help prevent or reduce menopause belly, increase your activity level, follow a nourishing diet (like the Mediterranean diet), and reduce stress. A Word From Verywell Believe it or not, doing abdominal exercises to get rid of belly fat may be overrated. Studies have found that it's more productive to reduce your calorie intake. You'll lose weight everywhere, including your belly. Frequently Asked Questions What is the average weight gain during menopause? On average, people gain 1.5 pounds a year in their 50s and 60s. About three-quarters of them have excess weight and half are obese. Consult a handy chart from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn if you're underweight, of healthy weight, overweight, or obese. Learn More: Diagnosing Obesity Does menopause weight gain go away? Menopause weight gain often appears without any apparent behavior change. But it doesn't go away on its own. Instead, like any other weight loss, losing menopause weight requires you to expend more calories than you take in. 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kapoor E, Collazo-Clavell ML, Faubion SS. Weight gain in women at midlife: A concise review of the pathophysiology and strategies for management. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2017;92(10):1552–1558. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.08.004. Jull J, Stacey D, Beach S, et al. Lifestyle interventions targeting body weight changes during the menopause transition: A systematic review. J Obes. 2014;2014:824310. doi:10.1155/2014/824310. The Association of UK Dietitians. Menopause and diet: Food fact sheet. Lombardo M, Perrone MA, Guseva E, et al. Losing weight after menopause with minimal aerobic training and Mediterranean diet. Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2471. doi:10.3390/nu12082471. Penn Medicine. Menopause might not be the culprit for weight gain as women age. Xenaki N, Bacopoulou F, Kokkinos A, Nicolaides NC, Chrousos GP, Darviri C. Impact of a stress management program on weight loss, mental health and lifestyle in adults with obesity: A randomized controlled trial. J Mol Biochem. 2018;7(2):78-84. University of Chicago Medicine. Managing menopause: Tips to help with weight gain, sex, hair loss, and more. By Kathi Valeii As a freelance writer, Kathi has experience writing both reported features and essays for national publications on the topics of healthcare, advocacy, and education. The bulk of her work centers on parenting, education, health, and social justice. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit