Surprising Causes of Weight Gain

3. Perimenopause

Women in the early stages of menopause often experience weight gain in addition to hot flashes, decreased libido, and irregular periods. This phase, called perimenopause, is marked by fluctuating hormones. Some findings suggest that low estrogen and progesterone levels could heighten the risk of obesity. Another possible factor in perimenopausal weight gain is the erratic production of hormones related to appetite, which spurs increased caloric intake. One study reported that women in perimenopause have higher levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin than pre- and post-menopausal women. Decreased estrogen may also impede the functions of neuropeptide Y and leptin, hormones that regulate satiety.