Belly Bulge Before and During Menopause
Belly bulge before and during menopause can be traced to, and influenced by, different things going on in your body at the same time.
Hormonal changes and weight gain
The closer you get to menopause, estrogen levels in your body begins to rapidly drop. At the same time, levels of a hormone called androgen [2] increase. This can cause an imbalance in hormones, which can cause weight gain.
With hormonal imbalance comes a new level of hunger. You start to notice that you are randomly craving different types of foods. This is similar to how periods might make you crave salt, sweet, and carb-rich foods due to hormonal shifts, menopause can do the same. Averagely a woman would gain around 4.5 pounds during and after menopause.
Body mass shifting
You may experience a change in body shape during and after menopause, and that’s natural. Fat that is present on your butt and thighs may move to your belly. You may observe that you are not necessarily adding weight and still your clothes are not fitting the way they used to. This is connected to your diet and genetics, but it’s also just a consequence of the hormonal changes in your body.
Menopausal bloating
Bloating is a common symptom of perimenopause and menopause. Your abdomen may shift and enlarge throughout the day, depending on what you’ve been eating. This bloating can be as a result of water or gas retention. Menopausal bloating is not necessarily weight gain, it might resemble bloating that you are used to from when you had your period. After menopause hits fully, you may observe that you don not experience bloating anymore.