There are many phases in a woman's life, menarche, menstruations, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause. Each phase comes with its own challenges, and changes the way of looking at life. However, narrowing to one, today we are focusing on weight gain after menopause. Gaining weight is a common concern for many women are approaching menopause. This period brings hormonal changes, shifts in activity levels and effects of aging. All of these contribute to weight gain. However, not everyone experiences weight gain during menopause, and individual experiences may vary greatly.

Menopause and Its Life Phases

Before diving into the specifics of weight gain, it’s helpful to understand the terminology associated with menopause:

• Premenopause refers to the period between puberty and the commencement of perimenopause.
• Perimenopause is the transitory period before menopause, characterized by fluctuating reproductive hormones.
• Menopause is defined as the absence of menstrual cycles for 12 consecutive months.
• Postmenopause is the period following menopause; typically used interchangeably with "menopause."

Hormonal Changes and Weight Gain

Hormones influence weight fluctuations after menopause, specifically how fat is distributed and how the body controls hunger.

Fat Content and Distribution

The hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause and menopause influence where fat is stored in the body:

Perimenopause: During this phase, estrogen levels fluctuate while progesterone levels decline steadily. In early perimenopause, higher estrogen levels can promote fat storage in the hips and thighs as subcutaneous fat, which generally carries fewer health risks.

Menopause: As estrogen levels drop significantly, fat storage shifts to the abdominal area as visceral fat.

This type of fat surrounds internal organs and is associated with health risks like:

• Insulin resistance
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• Other metabolic issues

Appetite Regulation

Lower estrogen levels during perimenopause can have an impact on appetite management. A 2019 analysis found that decreased estrogen may diminish satiety signals, making you feel less full after meals. This might lead to increased calorie consumption and weight gain.

The Effect of Age on Weight

Weight gain during menopause is attributed to more than just hormonal changes. Several elements come into play throughout the aging process:

Increased fat content and decreased muscle mass: These changes affect the body's resting energy expenditure (REE), which means fewer calories are expended when at rest.

Lower activity levels: Fatigue, sleep difficulties, and menopause-related symptoms can all lead to a decrease in physical activity, further reducing REE and increasing weight.

Managing Weight Gain During Menopause

If you are concerned about weight gain during menopause, a variety of strategies can help you manage it effectively. It is usually recommended that you speak with a healthcare practitioner before developing a specific approach.

Dietary modifications

Focus on a well-balanced diet that includes less carbohydrates, more fiber, and less added sugar and salt.

Include nutrient-dense meals to boost overall health.

Physical exercise

Regular exercise helps to maintain muscle mass and reduce body fat. Strength training, aerobic, and flexibility exercises are quite beneficial.

If you have osteoporosis, see your doctor about safe activity options.

Rest and Stress Management

Prioritize sleep and relaxation to combat fatigue and stress, both of which can contribute to weight gain.

Mindfulness practices or yoga may help reduce stress levels.

Vaccination has been the most powerful and effective tool in modern medicine that improves the body's immune system and fights off diseases, saving millions of lives annually.

Vaccines reduce the risk of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defenses to build protection. Vaccines are available to prevent more than 30 life-threatening diseases and infections, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), immunization currently prevents 3.5 million to 5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), influenza, and measles.

Also Read: Cancer-Hit US Couple Opens Up On ‘Nightmare’ Experience

While vaccines are available for both young and old, former director of AIIMS New Delhi, Dr Randeep Guleria, in a post on social media platform Instagram, urged doctors to recommend these based on people's age and the presence of comorbidities.

“Two very important factors one has to consider when recommending a vaccine for the adult population. One is the age, and if you have a patient over the age of 60 years, vaccination is definitely something you should recommend, or if a patient has associated comorbidities which increase the chance of vaccine-preventable diseases,” said the noted pulmonologist from Medanta Hospitals, Gurugram, in a Doctor's Special Series.

He recommended doctors to prescribe six types of vaccines for adults, namely:

• Influenza Vaccine

“It can be given as a pre-winter vaccine, which is a northern hemisphere vaccine, or it can be given in May or June when it is a southern hemisphere vaccine,” he added.

A flu vaccine typically reduces the risk of influenza infection, prevents severe illness, and complications.

Also read: This Common Vaccine At Higher Dose Can More Than Halve Alzheimer’s Risk In Older Adults

• Pneumococcal Vaccine

“For the pneumococcal vaccine, we now have a conjugate vaccine, which is available as PCV20, which is once in a lifetime, and that has made things much more easier,” Dr. Guleria said.

The PCV20 vaccine guards against 20 strains of pneumococcal bacteria. It also prevents serious pneumonia, invasive infections, and related complications. It is recommended for adults aged over 65 and those with weakened immune systems.

• Shingles Vaccine

The vaccine against shingles prevents the risk of viral infection that causes a painful rash and nerve damage. It also helps prevent long-term nerve pain and prevents serious complications from shingles. The vaccine is safe for adults 50 and older.

• Tdap vaccine

The Tdap vaccine protects against pertussis infection, also known as whooping cough. It guards against tetanus infections and reduces the risk of diphtheria and related complications.

• HPV vaccine

Beyond cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine also protects against anal and throat cancer. It prevents 90 percent of HPV-related cancers, is safe, and effective. It also prevents genital warts.

Also read: Health Tests Every Woman Should Do Once A Year

• Region-specific vaccination

Also read: How Vaccinations Help Build Immunity? List Of Vaccines You Should Get

A Cancer-hit US couple in North Dakota has shared their ‘nightmare’ experience with dual diagnosis of the deadly disease and parenting their three children.

Spencer Eddy, a 39-year-old father of three, suffered from dizzy spells for years. While doctors dismissed the condition as vertigo, it turned out to be a brain tumor, People reported.

MRI scans in April 2024 revealed that he had a tumor the size of a lime in his brain. Further scans and tests at Mayo Clinic in October confirmed medulloblastoma -- a malignant tumor that is located on the part of the brain that controls coordination and movement.

According to the Mayo Clinic, it is most common in children, but can occur in adults.

“When we found out that Spencer had a brain tumor, we were terrified,” said Jolene, his wife. “They said the cancer was blocking the fluid that flows from your vein to your spinal cord. They said they didn't know how he was still walking and talking, and how he hadn't had a stroke."

A week later, Spencer underwent a 10-hour surgery, and doctors were able to remove 85 percent of the tumor. Along with radiation and chemotherapy, he also needed speech and physical therapy to relearn how to walk and talk, People reported.

What came as a double blow to the couple was Jolene’s breast cancer diagnosis in April 2025.

“Whilst we were in the hospital, I noticed a small pea-sized lump under my armpit, but I put it to the back of my mind, because of everything that was going on with Spencer,” she recalled. “Doctors said it was probably just a cyst, but I asked for it to be removed anyway, and when it came back from testing, I found out it was breast cancer. I was absolutely floored.”

The doting parents “were so devastated and scared about what would happen to their kids”, if both of them die.

Following her diagnosis, Jolene was given hormone blockers and underwent a double mastectomy while Spencer was still undergoing chemotherapy.

Jolene struggled after the surgery and was vomiting and passing out frequently. She ultimately needed a blood transfusion and was able to recover.

It was hard for Jolene to take care of the family as Spencer could not walk well or drive.

"We're living most people's nightmare, but we're feeling optimistic about the future,” she said. “We have a long life, and we're going to fight for it; we're not going to give up.”

Spencer completed treatment in April 2025 and now has no evidence of cancer. Jolene also has no evidence of cancer. The couple now goes to appointments with their oncologists together as they hope to ensure their tumors don't grow back, the report said

Can A Brain Tumor Cause Dizziness?

While dizziness by itself is not a common symptom of a brain tumor, some tumors can trigger headaches and bouts of nausea and vomiting that may be associated with a dizzy feeling.

Dizziness, also called vertigo, is however, associated with tumors that develop in the cerebellum—the part of the brain that controls movement.

Medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor, forms when cells in the cerebellum develop changes in their DNA. These changes cause the cells to grow and multiply quickly, as per the Mayo Clinic.

Common signs and symptoms of medulloblastoma may include:

• Dizziness.
• Double vision or other vision changes.
• Headaches, which are often worse in the morning.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Poor coordination.
• Tiredness.
• Difficulty with balance or an unsteady walk.

There are many myths linked to heart health that can mislead people and prevent them from seeking timely help. This article helps to debunk the myths and keep the heart healthy. It is time to prioritize heart health. Dr Rahul Gupta, Director of Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Program, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, spoke about the common myths about heart disease and listed the facts as well.

Heart problems are commonly seen in people of all age groups. However, heart health is often surrounded by myths and misconceptions that can lead to confusion and poor lifestyle choices in people. So, heart health depends on multiple factors, including diet, activity, stress, and overall lifestyle, and not just one or two habits. Here, the expert helps to debunk the myths associated with heart health and improve the quality of life.

Dispelling myths surrounding heart health

Myth 1: Only older people are at risk of heart problems

Fact: People commonly believe that heart problems can only happen in old age. However, currently, a large number of youngsters aged 25-35 are also struggling with heart issues such as heart attacks and heart failure because of stress, unhealthy diets, and lack of exercise. So, heart problems are not limited only to older people. Anyone, irrespective of their age, can suffer from them. Hence, there is a need of the hour to go for regular heart check-ups and to initiate timely treatment for heart problems.

Myth 2: If you are fit, your heart is SAFE

Fact: So, being physically active is important, but it does not reduce the chances of heart problems. Be attentive to the family history, genetics, and other factors such as high cholesterol or even stress. So, go for cardiac screening on a yearly basis to know the status of your heart health. Discomfort in the arms, jaw, or back and light-headedness can also mean that your heart is in danger.

Myth 3: Heart disease is only seen in men

Fact: Shockingly, heart disease also causes higher morbidity and mortality rates in women. The symptoms seen in women linked to heart disease are dizziness, palpitations, and even giddiness. Hence, women should also focus on their heart health. Stay alert, stay safe!

Your heart health matters. By understanding the facts and making informed choices, it is possible for everyone to protect their heart and overall well-being.