Hormone Shifts and Weight Gain
One of the common complaints that we hear from patients is that they have encountered more difficulty maintaining a healthy weight as they have aged. Studies have confirmed that women may gain weight more easily during the years leading up to menopause. After menopause, this may not change much. What one study has shown is that declining estrogen levels first cause fat to distribute unevenly to the subcutaneous tissue in the buttocks, legs, and arms. Interestingly, in men, the reverse may happen. With age, a man’s testosterone levels dip and, as a result, his estrogen levels increase, leading to fat in areas it doesn’t belong.
Hormones are Just the First Step to Weight Gain
When we are young, our resting metabolic rate tends to be higher; we burn more fat without doing a thing. When we reach mid-life and those hormones start to wobble, so will the scale. This is because the body needs to put in more effort to burn calories. You may be eating the same way you always have, but your body will naturally hold more fat due to decreased resting metabolic rate.
Other contributing factors to weight gain that are also associated with hormones include the increase in cortisol levels that coincide with the stress of daily life, the lack of sleep that seems to be the new norm, and the lack of motivation to exercise that stems from sleep deprivation.
Fat is Not Uncommon, and it’s Also Not Healthy
The issue with the fat that might pile on during mid-life is not only that it can make you feel self-conscious and frustrated, but that it can also increase your risk of several health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
At the heart of these health risks is belly fat known as visceral fat. This is the fatty tissue that accumulates beneath the subcutaneous fat that makes a muffin top. Visceral fat surrounds organs and is associated with systemic inflammation, and it needs to go.
Gaining Control of Your Health May Begin with a Simple Cosmetic Treatment
We are pleased to offer CoolSculpting treatment to our Denver patients in a comfortable, friendly environment. CoolSculpting continues to receive praise for its efficiency and optimal outcomes. While this fat-freezing body-contouring treatment is not designed to reduce visceral fat, it does eliminate the overlying subcutaneous fat that diminishes your appearance. As a result of non-surgical body sculpting, many people find their motivation to exercise and eat well to maintain their results; and this can lead to the all-important reduction in visceral fat.
Look better, feel better, live better. Contact us at (303) 839-1616 to schedule your CoolSculpting treatment.
