THE REFINED FIT

Menopause can feel like your body suddenly switches the rules—especially when it comes to weight. Even women who have stayed active and eaten well for years may notice weight creeping up, particularly around the abdomen. This shift is common, normal, and heavily influenced by hormonal changes—but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. As estrogen declines, it affects metabolism, muscle mass, fat distribution, insulin sensitivity, mood, sleep, and hunger cues. These change

Many women approaching or undergoing the transition into Menopause notice a frustrating — and sometimes puzzling — change in their body shape: instead of fat being stored mainly in the hips and thighs, it begins accumulating around the abdomen. Often referred to colloquially as the “menopause belly”, this shift is far more than a cosmetic annoyance