Weight gain is a very common symptom of perimenopause and menopause. How to mitigate it

Perimenopause and menopause can be a rough time for many women. From hot flashes and night sweats to weight gain, that won’t go away no matter what. KJZZ talked to one doctor about that very common symptom.

Perimenopause, or the seven to 10 years leading up to your last period, can be a frustrating time. Weight gain during and after this transition is extraordinarily common, says Dr. Shawn Stevenson, the chief of foregut and bariatric surgery at Dignity Health.

"It’s due to hormonal changes, which result in decreased estrogen and progesterone. And when that happens, you have a decrease in your metabolic rate," Stevenson said.

So you might be eating the same meals or doing the same work out and you’re still gaining weight. Stevenson says there are options — outside of surgery.

"Diet, exercise, portion control, decreased carbohydrates in the diet are always key," Stevenson said.

He says drugs like Ozempic are popular but not a long term solution. There’s also a risk of lean muscle loss. He also suggests setting aside time to exercise regularly.

"And the time to start is now. Like I said, it will blunt your effects if you have a  higher exercise tolerance going into those times and more lean muscle, it will disengage some of that weight gain that you would otherwise see. So the sooner you can start doing it, I mean estrogen is decreasing all through perimenopause," Stevenson said.

Stevenson also recommends weight or resistance training. He also suggests consuming high amounts of protein to help with lean muscle production.