Is it true that women who take hormones gain weight?
No. The Task Force found no evidence that using hormones leads to weight gain. The cause is more likely to be associated with your diet and activity level than with hormone therapy. The weight gain that occurs during this time in a woman’s life appears to be related to aging, not menopause or HT. In one three-year study involving 485 women ranging in age from 42 to 50, researchers found the women gained an average of about 5 pounds. This weight gain occurred even among women who did not experience menopause during the study period. As you grow older, your body’s metabolism (the rate at which you burn calories) declines. When combined with a lower activity level, the result is added pounds. What’s more, when you gain weight in the middle and later years, it’s more likely to accumulate around your abdomen, rather than the hips and thighs. Abdominal weight is associated with a greater risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. The good news is that you can help stave off so-
