{"id":28785,"date":"2021-10-25T23:42:34","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T23:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=28785"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/","title":{"rendered":"Hormones And Weight Gain After 40: How To Use Diet And Exercise To Overcome This"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Reasons_For_Unexplained_Weight_Gain_After_40\" >Reasons For Unexplained Weight Gain After 40<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Hormonal_Changes\" >Hormonal Changes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Slower_Metabolism\" >Slower Metabolism<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Thyroid_Issues\" >Thyroid Issues<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Loss_Of_Muscle_Mass\" >Loss Of Muscle Mass<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Loss_Of_Lean_Muscle\" >Loss Of Lean Muscle<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Insulin_Resistance_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\" >Insulin Resistance And Weight Gain After 40<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Poor_Appetite_Cues\" >Poor Appetite Cues<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Lack_Of_Physical_Activity\" >Lack Of Physical Activity<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Tips_For_Losing_Weight_After_40\" >Tips For Losing Weight After 40<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Go_On_A_High_Protein_Diet\" >Go On A High Protein Diet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Eat_Low-Carb_Leafy_Green_Vegetables\" >Eat Low-Carb, Leafy Green Vegetables<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Eat_Healthy_Fats\" >Eat Healthy Fats<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Ditch_Refined_Carbs\" >Ditch Refined Carbs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Eat_More_Of_Anti-Inflammatory_Foods\" >Eat More Of Anti-Inflammatory Foods<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Eat_More_Fiber\" >Eat More Fiber\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Prioritize_Whole_Foods_Over_Processed_Ones\" >Prioritize Whole Foods Over Processed Ones<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Keep_A_Food_Journal_To_Monitor_Your_Cravings\" >Keep A Food Journal To Monitor Your Cravings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Reduce_Your_Portions_To_Match_Your_Slower_Metabolism\" >Reduce Your Portions To Match Your Slower Metabolism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Practice_Mindful_Eating\" >Practice Mindful Eating<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Fire_Up_Your_Metabolism_Through_Exercise\" >Fire Up Your Metabolism Through Exercise<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Do_Cardio_Regularly\" >Do Cardio Regularly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Switch_Up_Your_Workouts_With_Yoga_Meditation_Or_Tai_Chi\" >Switch Up Your Workouts With Yoga, Meditation Or Tai Chi<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Prioritize_Stress_Management\" >Prioritize Stress Management<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Prioritize_A_Good_Nights_Sleep\" >Prioritize A Good Night&#8217;s Sleep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#Get_your_personalized\" >Get your personalized<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#DISCLAIMER\" >DISCLAIMER:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#SOURCES\" >SOURCES:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve probably noticed a change in hormones and weight gain after 40, and you\u2019re not alone. Weight gain is a common part of aging, but it doesn&#8217;t have to be a bad thing or something that just happens to you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can take steps to counter the weight gain and body composition changes that tend to come with age. Diet and exercise are two very important parts of this process so let&#8217;s take a look at both of them in detail. But first, we&#8217;ll look at all the reasons why the pounds may pile on so fast once you hit a certain age.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reasons_For_Unexplained_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><\/span><strong>Reasons For Unexplained Weight Gain After 40<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several reasons why <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-foods-for-hormone-balance\/\">weight gain<\/a> progresses rapidly after 40. The most common causes, which also make losing weight after 40 difficult, are:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hormonal_Changes\"><\/span><strong>Hormonal Changes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When people reach the age of 40 or so, <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/low-estrogen-diet\/\">hormone changes<\/a> start to occur. The amounts of various hormones in the body slowly decline or shift and this can lead to unwanted weight gain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinicproceedings.org\/article\/S0025-6196(20)30922-8\/fulltext\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Hormone changes can trigger weight gain in several ways. They affect how food is used or stored, they can increase appetite, and they can cause cravings for certain foods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As hormone levels change, more fat tends to accumulate in the hips and waistline. Men and postmenopausal women are prone to weight gain in the abdominal area because of hormonal shifts which promote fat storage in this area over others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in hormones can affect appetite as well as metabolism. When hormone levels change, feelings of hunger may occur more often than usual.\u00a0 This can cause people to eat more, which in turn causes <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-to-boost-testosterone\/\">weight gain<\/a> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.3109\/07853899808999380\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormone changes may also affect the way that certain foods are metabolized by the body (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.3109\/07853899808999380\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Certain hormones interacting with each other may lead to cravings for carbohydrates, for example. These cravings can lead to overeating and weight gain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lower <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/cortisol-belly-fat\/\">energy levels<\/a> due to hormone shifts may make it difficult for older people to exercise. Inactivity causes weight gain, which can add pounds at any age.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32543 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/7-4-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"hormones and weight gain after 40\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/7-4.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/7-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/7-4.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/7-4-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/7-4.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Slower_Metabolism\"><\/span><strong>Slower Metabolism<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metabolism, the rate at which <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/foods-that-lower-cortisol\/\">your body<\/a> burns calories, does decrease with age, especially after 40. This can be accelerated by medical problems and medications. When your body&#8217;s ability to burn energy begins to decline it puts you at risk of gaining weight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/the-menopause-diet-5-day-plan-to-lose-weight\/\">The Menopause Diet 5 Day Plan To Lose Weight In No Time!<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two mechanisms causing slower metabolism:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Thyroid_Issues\"><\/span><strong>Thyroid Issues<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces hormones. The primary hormone produced by the thyroid is thyroxine which helps regulate metabolism and energy production.\u00a0 Hypothyroidism means that this gland does not produce enough thyroxine which will slow down your resting metabolic rate. As you age,\u00a0 the thyroid becomes less active and is more likely to be underactive.\u00a0 As a result, the production of thyroxine could decrease and you may experience slowed metabolism (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/12120-hypothyroidism\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Loss_Of_Muscle_Mass\"><\/span><strong>Loss Of Muscle Mass<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle tissue burns more calories than <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/estrogen-foods-to-avoid\/\">fat tissue<\/a>, so losing muscle mass will decrease your resting metabolic rate. As you age,\u00a0 your body naturally tends to <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/pepper-health-benefits\/\">lose muscle<\/a> tissue and gains fat.\u00a0 This might be partly because your body&#8217;s hormonal profile changes with age.\u00a0 The growth hormone that helps build muscle is produced in greater amounts during your childhood years when you are growing rapidly.\u00a0 As you age it declines steadily and eventually reaches very low levels which causes loss of muscle tissue (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2804956\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Loss_Of_Lean_Muscle\"><\/span><strong>Loss Of Lean Muscle<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Male or female, on average after age 40 your body starts to lose muscle mass at a rate of 3 to 8 percent per decade. With less muscle comes lower metabolism and an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems that come with poor body composition (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2804956\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32266 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Frame-4534-1024x576.png\" alt=\"hormones and weight gain after 40\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Frame-4534.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Frame-4534-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Frame-4534.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Frame-4534-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Frame-4534.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Insulin_Resistance_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><\/span><strong>Insulin Resistance And Weight Gain After 40<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you grow older, your body tends to naturally become less sensitive and more resistant to insulin (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2797949\/#:~:text=Age%20is%20not%20only%20associated,related%20insulin%20resistance%20(20).\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Exactly why insulin resistance (when the body doesn&#8217;t respond the same way to insulin) occurs isn&#8217;t completely understood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insulin resistance simply means that the body is less responsive to the hormone that &#8216;unlocks&#8217; cells so they can absorb sugar from the bloodstream for energy. In people who are insulin resistant, blood glucose levels remain higher than normal after eating, and the pancreas responds by producing more insulin (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2797949\/#:~:text=Age%20is%20not%20only%20associated,related%20insulin%20resistance%20(20).\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most experts believe that insulin resistance is caused by a combination of genetics and obesity &#8211; not simply because fat cells produce chemicals called cytokines, but also because being overweight or obese tends to interfere with other hormones too, like leptin (the satiety hormone) and ghrelin (the hunger hormone) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2797949\/#:~:text=Age%20is%20not%20only%20associated,related%20insulin%20resistance%20(20).\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you&#8217;re insulin resistant, your body&#8217;s tissues become less effective at absorbing glucose from the bloodstream to use for energy. You may feel hungry more often, and crave sugar or fatty foods because your body assumes it needs to take in food to replenish fuel stores. This can contribute to weight gain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2797949\/#:~:text=Age%20is%20not%20only%20associated,related%20insulin%20resistance%20(20).\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Poor_Appetite_Cues\"><\/span><strong>Poor Appetite Cues<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor appetite cues after 40 can be attributed to a range of factors, including hormonal changes, stress, and anxiety. In particular, hormones that regulate appetite, like ghrelin (which tells you when you&#8217;re hungry) and leptin (which tells you when you&#8217;re full), fluctuate after 40. This makes you eat more even when you&#8217;re not using up all that food for energy. In short, it makes it harder to tell when you&#8217;re full (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4589891\/#:~:text=The%20physiological%20changes%20that%20occur,can%20contribute%20to%20declining%20appetite.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lack_Of_Physical_Activity\"><\/span><strong>Lack Of Physical Activity<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we reach 40, we may experience some common conditions and health problems such as arthritis and obesity (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/ageing-and-health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). One less talked about issue is the fact that we become less active. This is because of many factors including the peak of our work careers, children getting older, responsibilities at home, injuries from sports or from aging joints, and a general sense of being tired.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>BetterMe app is a foolproof way to go from zero to a weight loss hero in a safe and sustainable way! What are you waiting for? <a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Start transforming your body now<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32611 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"hormones and weight gain after 40\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/8.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_For_Losing_Weight_After_40\"><\/span><strong>Tips For Losing Weight After 40<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is how you can use diet and exercise to overcome weight gain after 40:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Go_On_A_High_Protein_Diet\"><\/span><strong>Go On A High Protein Diet<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the main causes of weight gain at this age is loss of lean muscle. If you&#8217;re not eating enough protein, that decline could happen even faster. A high protein diet is also important because it burns more calories than any other macronutrient when digested (about 25% of the calories when burned vs 5-10% for carbs and fat) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5644969\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are other benefits of eating more protein &#8211;\u00a0 it increases your satiety hormones, reduces cravings for sugary foods, and helps you feel full (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5644969\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the best protein sources to include in your diet are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lean red meat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poultry<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fish<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low-fat dairy products<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32571 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2-6-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"hormones and weight gain after 40\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2-6.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2-6-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2-6.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2-6-1636x920.jpg 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2-6.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eat_Low-Carb_Leafy_Green_Vegetables\"><\/span><strong>Eat Low-Carb, Leafy Green Vegetables<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leafy greens are high in fiber, which helps you feel full for longer. These vegetables also contain essential vitamins and minerals that nourish your body (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5772164\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Some of the top leafy green vegetables you can include in your diet are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kale Spinach\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collard Greens\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Broccoli\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arugula\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asparagus\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-32980 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/10-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"detox for your body\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/10-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/10-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/10-1.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/10-1-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/10-1.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eat_Healthy_Fats\"><\/span><strong>Eat Healthy Fats<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should also eat healthy fats every day to improve your health and well-being, prevent disease (such as heart disease), and help keep weight off. Just remember that not all fats are created equal &#8211; some are healthy while others contribute to risk factors for cardiovascular disease (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/the-truth-about-fats-bad-and-good\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Healthy fats you can eat more of include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, and macadamia nuts\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fish: Salmon, herring, anchovies, and sardines<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avocado\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy oils such as olive oil or canola oil\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ditch_Refined_Carbs\"><\/span><strong>Ditch Refined Carbs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Refined carbs provide your body with simple sugars that are easy to overeat and can lead to weight gain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ajcn\/article\/79\/5\/774\/4690186\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). These include white breads and pastas made from white flour; baked goods like cakes and cookies; starchy vegetables like potatoes; sugar-sweetened beverages like soda; fruit juices; honey; agave syrup; and other processed foods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of these foods try whole grains (such as quinoa, oats, whole wheat bread), which provide healthy complex carbs your body can use for energy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33113 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4904-1024x576.png\" alt=\"hormones and weight gain after 40\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4904.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4904-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4904.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4904.png 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eat_More_Of_Anti-Inflammatory_Foods\"><\/span><strong>Eat More Of Anti-Inflammatory Foods<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consuming anti-inflammatory foods may help reduce muscle pain after exercise and prevent chronic conditions associated with aging like osteoporosis. Some of the top anti-inflammatory foods you can include in your diet are (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/foods-that-fight-inflammation#:~:text=Benefits%20of%20anti%2Dinflammatory%20foods&amp;text=Studies%20have%20also%20associated%20nuts,protect%20against%20inflammation%2C%20as%20well.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spices: Turmeric, ginger, oregano, basil, paprika, black pepper\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nutrient rich veggies such as broccoli and spinach\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Omega 3 fatty acids from salmon or sardines\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fruits: Blueberries and strawberries\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Green tea or green coffee beans<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eat_More_Fiber\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Eat More Fiber<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One way to lose weight after 40 is to eat foods high in fiber, which helps you feel full for longer. Also, fiber provides many other health benefits such as improving metabolism, preventing constipation and diverticulosis, supporting healthy digestion, and helping you feel full and satisfied (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7589116\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fiber is found in foods like whole grain breads and cereals; fruits; vegetables; beans; nuts; seeds; lentils.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-did-i-gain-2-pounds-overnight\/\">How Did I Gain 2 Pounds Overnight? What You Need To Know About Weight Fluctuations<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3><strong data-wp-editing=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33343 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4840-1024x576.png\" alt=\"5 day meal plan\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4840.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4840-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4840.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Frame-4840.png 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prioritize_Whole_Foods_Over_Processed_Ones\"><\/span><strong data-wp-editing=\"1\">Prioritize Whole Foods Over Processed Ones<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most important things to do after 40 is to limit processed foods that are loaded with sugar, refined grains or unhealthy fats. These can not only contribute to weight gain but might also increase your risk for conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancers and dementia (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ajcn\/article\/79\/5\/774\/4690186\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure to eat more whole foods &#8211; they provide the body with high quality nutrients that help you feel energized and can decrease your risk of chronic diseases later in life. Some\u00a0 of the best foods to eat during your 40&#8217;s include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blueberries\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nuts and seeds<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whole grains like quinoa, oats, brown rice or buckwheat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lean meats like turkey or chicken breast and fish<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fresh fruits and veggies\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_A_Food_Journal_To_Monitor_Your_Cravings\"><\/span><strong>Keep A Food Journal To Monitor Your Cravings<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping a food journal can help you identify the feelings that trigger certain cravings, so these can be dealt with in a different way to reduce your chance of weight gain. It&#8217;s also important to write down how you feel when you eat certain foods &#8211; are you focused or distracted? Do they make you feel satisfied or hungry soon after?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33155 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4875-1024x576.png\" alt=\"hormones and weight gain after 40\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4875.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4875-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4875.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4875-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4875.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reduce_Your_Portions_To_Match_Your_Slower_Metabolism\"><\/span><strong>Reduce Your Portions To Match Your Slower Metabolism<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After 40, the metabolism slows down up to 5% each decade (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/healthy-aging\/how-much-does-your-metabolism-slow-down-as-you-age#1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). So what was once a healthy amount of food is now more than you need. If you notice your clothes don&#8217;t fit as well it could mean that you&#8217;re eating too many calories and need to cut back &#8211; by 300 per day is a good place to start.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practice_Mindful_Eating\"><\/span><strong>Practice Mindful Eating<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mindful eating can help you slow down and give your body the chance to feel full before overeating. You can practice mindful eating by putting down silverware between bites, chewing your food slowly, paying attention to how many times you actually need to swallow food until you are satisfied, sitting at a table during meals instead of in front of TV or computer, stopping when you are full.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fire_Up_Your_Metabolism_Through_Exercise\"><\/span><strong>Fire Up Your Metabolism Through Exercise<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working out is another way to lose weight after 40 by increasing your metabolism and burning more calories than you would during a normal day. It doesn&#8217;t have to be an intense workout either &#8211; simply getting active can make enough of a difference, especially if it&#8217;s something you enjoy like walking or hiking. Strength training is also an important part of building or maintaining muscle which helps keep the metabolism humming along at full speed (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22777332\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-33399 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4900-1024x576.png\" alt=\"hormones and weight gain after 40\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4900.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4900-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4900.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-4900.png 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Cardio_Regularly\"><\/span><strong>Do Cardio Regularly<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardio workouts are great for helping lose weight after 40 because they burn extra calories that can further boost your body&#8217;s fat-burning potential while strengthening your heart to protect against diseases later in life (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25162652\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)! Some examples include jogging, dancing, swimming and biking.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Switch_Up_Your_Workouts_With_Yoga_Meditation_Or_Tai_Chi\"><\/span><strong>Switch Up Your Workouts With Yoga, Meditation Or Tai Chi<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These types of exercises can lower cortisol levels which helps reduce weight gain and improve stress management making you feel calmer throughout the day &#8211; all good things for staying healthy! Tai chi is especially helpful because it combines gentle movements with deep breathing, so it&#8217;s easy enough to fit into your day no matter how busy you are. Adding different styles of exercise into your daily routine is also a great way to get more active!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Intense sweat sessions, working weight loss tips, lip-smacking recipes come in one package with the BetterMe app. And all of it is at your fingertips, <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\">start transforming your life<\/a> now!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prioritize_Stress_Management\"><\/span><strong>Prioritize Stress Management<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you get older, managing stress levels becomes important to your health. Stress can cause the body to release chemicals that increase cortisol levels which lead to weight gain so it&#8217;s vital to find ways to manage stress like exercising, practicing yoga, meditating or spending time outdoors (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandohealth.com\/content-hub\/how-too-much-stress-can-cause-weight-gain-and-what-to-do-about-it\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prioritize_A_Good_Nights_Sleep\"><\/span><strong>Prioritize A Good Night&#8217;s Sleep<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After 40, you&#8217;ll need at least 7 hours of sleep per night and it&#8217;s also important to transition into a consistent bedtime schedule. Lack of sleep can affect your metabolism, appetite, and the hormones that control the stress response in the body making it hard to lose weight (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/live-well\/sleep-and-tiredness\/why-lack-of-sleep-is-bad-for-your-health\/#:~:text=If%20it%20continues%2C%20lack%20of,pressure%20(hypertension)%20and%20diabetes.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some ways to improve the quantity and quality of sleep you get every night are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limit caffeine after 2 p.m.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid screen time for at least an hour before bedtime\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a sleep routine like doing relaxing activities like taking a bath (and maybe even one with epsom salts to help muscles relax!) before calling it a night.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s important not to be too hard on yourself if your weight isn&#8217;t where you want it after 40 &#8211; that&#8217;s normal &#8211; just keep doing what works for your body and remember that slow and steady wins the race. And lastly, remember that 40 is just a number &#8211; even though our bodies may change as we age (and yes this includes things like hair loss, wrinkles, and changing hormones), we can still be healthy and happy throughout our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n\n    <section class=\"ad-single-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-title-wrapper\">\n            <h3 class=\"ad-single-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_personalized\"><\/span>Get your personalized<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n            <span class=\"ad-single-sub-title color-green\">\n                <svg class=\"icon-sparkle\" width=\"36\" height=\"21\" viewBox=\"0 0 36 21\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                          d=\"M34.6837 0.515943C34.8247 0.835947 34.9421 1.16291 34.9891 1.48987C35.1417 2.64466 35.3179 6.51949 35.2592 7.29863C35.2592 7.53515 35.1887 7.7995 35.0243 8.01516C34.7307 8.39777 33.9791 8.4256 33.5681 8.07081C33.4154 7.94559 33.3215 7.77863 33.2745 7.61863C33.1453 7.15254 33.0396 6.68645 32.9809 6.22035C32.8165 4.81512 32.6638 3.40293 32.5581 1.9977C32.5229 1.53161 32.6051 1.05856 32.6991 0.592466C32.7695 0.244637 33.251 -0.0197144 33.6973 0.00115537C34.2257 0.0289818 34.5546 0.230723 34.6837 0.515943ZM18.6184 9.78225C18.5734 9.67557 18.5344 9.57528 18.4971 9.47956C18.4178 9.27568 18.3465 9.09257 18.2426 8.91267C16.7159 6.24133 14.2615 3.86217 11.4665 1.60128C11.1377 1.33693 10.7267 1.08649 10.2687 0.919531C10.0221 0.829095 9.52885 0.843009 9.247 0.933445C9.03562 1.00301 8.88295 1.27432 8.92992 1.42736C9.01213 1.71954 9.18828 2.01868 9.4349 2.28303C11.0555 4.02913 12.6879 5.76829 14.3437 7.50048C14.8308 8.0068 15.3395 8.50887 15.8473 9.01L15.8473 9.01001C15.9883 9.14921 16.1293 9.28833 16.2697 9.42746C16.4811 9.64311 16.7159 9.85181 16.9626 10.0466C17.2327 10.2692 17.6437 10.4014 18.0547 10.2553C18.0691 10.2501 18.0836 10.245 18.0981 10.2399C18.1097 10.2358 18.1213 10.2318 18.1329 10.2278C18.3785 10.1424 18.6184 10.0589 18.6184 9.78225ZM1.98942 20.1407C2.17783 20.1221 2.37674 20.105 2.58175 20.0875C2.99012 20.0525 3.42272 20.0154 3.84492 19.9598C6.34632 19.6259 8.84771 19.292 11.3374 18.9442C11.8776 18.8676 12.406 18.7355 12.8875 18.5824C13.5334 18.3807 13.7566 18.0954 13.6509 17.7824C13.5452 17.4694 13.1224 17.2746 12.3826 17.2676C11.8776 17.2607 11.3374 17.2676 10.8559 17.3372C7.69683 17.8102 4.5378 18.2972 1.3905 18.7911C1.03819 18.8468 0.674137 18.9442 0.404034 19.0833C-0.2771 19.4242 -0.065712 19.9598 0.803314 20.092C1.01858 20.1228 1.25262 20.1258 1.51135 20.1291C1.66195 20.131 1.82092 20.133 1.98942 20.1407Z\"\n                          fill=\"#17B991\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n               meal plan!\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n    \n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-desc-wrapper\">\n            <p class=\"ad-single-desc\">What's your main health goal?<\/p>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Lose weight<\/a>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Hormones_And_Weight_Gain_After_40\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Feel great<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <img class=\"ad-single-img\" alt=\"health-food\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"395\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/themes\/gridlove-child\/assets\/img\/ad\/health-food.webp\">\n    <\/section>\n<p><iframe title=\"BetterMe | Create Happines now\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xLxjdQ4DYdg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DISCLAIMER\"><\/span><b>DISCLAIMER:<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SOURCES\"><\/span><b>SOURCES:<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2797949\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Age, Obesity, and Sex Effects on Insulin Sensitivity and Skeletal Mitochondrial Function<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2010, nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/ageing-and-health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aging and health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2021, who.int)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4589891\/#:~:text=The%20physiological%20changes%20that%20occur,can%20contribute%20to%20declining%20appetite.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An overview of appetite decline in older people<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2015, nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25162652\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caloric expenditure of aerobic, resistance, or combined high-intensity interval training using a hydraulic resistance system in healthy men<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2015, nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5644969\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effect of a High-Protein Diet Versus Standard-Protein Diet on Weight Loss and Biomarkers of Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2017, nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/foods-that-fight-inflammation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foods that fight inflammation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020, harvard.edu)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinicproceedings.org\/article\/S0025-6196(20)30922-8\/fulltext\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormonal and Metabolic Changes of Aging and the Influence of Lifestyle Modifications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020, mayoclinicproceedings.org)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.3109\/07853899808999380\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormonal regulation of appetite and food intake<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (1998, tandfonline.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/healthy-aging\/how-much-does-your-metabolism-slow-down-as-you-age#1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Much Does Your Metabolism Slow Down as You Age?<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020, webmd.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandohealth.com\/content-hub\/how-too-much-stress-can-cause-weight-gain-and-what-to-do-about-it\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Too Much Stress Can Cause Weight Gain (and What To Do About It)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020, orlandohealth.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/12120-hypothyroidism\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypothyroidism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020, clevelandclinic.org)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ajcn\/article\/79\/5\/774\/4690186\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased consumption of increased carbohydrates and the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the United States: an ecological assessment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2004, oup.com)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2804956\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle tissue changes with aging<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2010, nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5772164\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nutrients and bioactives in green leafy vegetables and cognitive decline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2018, nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22777332\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resistance training is medicine: effects of strength training on health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2012, nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7589116\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Health Benefits of Dietary Fiber<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2020, nih.gov)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/the-truth-about-fats-bad-and-good\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The truth about fats: the good, the bad and the in-between<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2019, harvard.edu)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/live-well\/sleep-and-tiredness\/why-lack-of-sleep-is-bad-for-your-health\/\">Why lack of sleep is bad for your health<\/a> (2021, nhs.uk)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve probably noticed a change in hormones and weight gain after 40, and you\u2019re not alone. Weight gain is a common part of aging, but it doesn&#8217;t have to be a bad thing or something that just happens to you.\u00a0 You can take steps to counter the weight gain and body composition changes that tend [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28788,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[130,2],"tags":[],"coauthors":[125,87],"class_list":["post-28785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workouts-for-women","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Hormones And Weight Gain After 40: How To Use Diet And Exercise To Overcome This - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Struggling to manage your weight as you grow older? Here is what you need to know about hormones and weight gain after 40.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hormones And Weight Gain After 40: How To Use Diet And Exercise To Overcome This\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Struggling to manage your weight as you grow older? Here is what you need to know about hormones and weight gain after 40.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"#\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1937855359.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eve Chalicha, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eve Chalicha, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f17673def6e76d2649ffa32b13f712e3\"},\"headline\":\"Hormones And Weight Gain After 40: How To Use Diet And Exercise To Overcome This\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/\"},\"wordCount\":2667,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1937855359.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"For Women\",\"Nutrition\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">You\u2019ve probably noticed a change in hormones and weight gain after 40, and you\u2019re not alone. Weight gain is a common part of aging, but it doesn't have to be a bad thing or something that just happens to you.\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">You can take steps to counter the weight gain and body composition changes that tend to come with age. Diet and exercise are two very important parts of this process so let's take a look at both of them in detail. But first, we'll look at all the reasons why the pounds may pile on so fast once you hit a certain age.<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><strong>Reasons For Unexplained Weight Gain After 40<\/strong><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">There are several reasons why <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-foods-for-hormone-balance\/\\\">weight gain<\/a> progresses rapidly after 40. The most common causes, which also make losing weight after 40 difficult, are:<\/span>\\r\\n<h3><strong>Hormonal Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">When people reach the age of 40 or so, <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/low-estrogen-diet\/\\\">hormone changes<\/a> start to occur. The amounts of various hormones in the body slowly decline or shift and this can lead to unwanted weight gain (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinicproceedings.org\/article\/S0025-6196(20)30922-8\/fulltext\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">). Hormone changes can trigger weight gain in several ways. They affect how food is used or stored, they can increase appetite, and they can cause cravings for certain foods.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">As hormone levels change, more fat tends to accumulate in the hips and waistline. Men and postmenopausal women are prone to weight gain in the abdominal area because of hormonal shifts which promote fat storage in this area over others.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Changes in hormones can  ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/\",\"name\":\"Hormones And Weight Gain After 40: How To Use Diet And Exercise To Overcome This - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1937855359.jpg\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"Struggling to manage your weight as you grow older? 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Here is what you need to know about hormones and weight gain after 40.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Hormones And Weight Gain After 40: How To Use Diet And Exercise To Overcome This","og_description":"Struggling to manage your weight as you grow older? Here is what you need to know about hormones and weight gain after 40.","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_author":"#","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1937855359.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Eve Chalicha, Kristen Fleming, RD","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Eve Chalicha, Kristen Fleming, RD","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/"},"author":{"name":"BetterMe","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/f17673def6e76d2649ffa32b13f712e3"},"headline":"Hormones And Weight Gain After 40: How To Use Diet And Exercise To Overcome This","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/"},"wordCount":2667,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1937855359.jpg","articleSection":["For Women","Nutrition"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ve probably noticed a change in hormones and weight gain after 40, and you\u2019re not alone. Weight gain is a common part of aging, but it doesn't have to be a bad thing or something that just happens to you.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can take steps to counter the weight gain and body composition changes that tend to come with age. Diet and exercise are two very important parts of this process so let's take a look at both of them in detail. But first, we'll look at all the reasons why the pounds may pile on so fast once you hit a certain age.<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Reasons For Unexplained Weight Gain After 40<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several reasons why <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-foods-for-hormone-balance\/\">weight gain<\/a> progresses rapidly after 40. The most common causes, which also make losing weight after 40 difficult, are:<\/span>\r\n<h3><strong>Hormonal Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When people reach the age of 40 or so, <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/low-estrogen-diet\/\">hormone changes<\/a> start to occur. The amounts of various hormones in the body slowly decline or shift and this can lead to unwanted weight gain (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinicproceedings.org\/article\/S0025-6196(20)30922-8\/fulltext\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Hormone changes can trigger weight gain in several ways. They affect how food is used or stored, they can increase appetite, and they can cause cravings for certain foods.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As hormone levels change, more fat tends to accumulate in the hips and waistline. Men and postmenopausal women are prone to weight gain in the abdominal area because of hormonal shifts which promote fat storage in this area over others.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in hormones can  ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/","name":"Hormones And Weight Gain After 40: How To Use Diet And Exercise To Overcome This - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/hormones-and-weight-gain-after-40\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/shutterstock_1937855359.jpg","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","description":"Struggling to manage your weight as you grow older? 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