Middle-aged spread is natural

Women of a certain age have long complained that extra pounds around their middle are more difficult to shift than when they were younger. Now scientists have confirmed their fears - the menopause makes you fat.

Doctors researching the effect of midlife on women's weight found that changes in hormones appear to alter the metabolism, making them more likely to put on extra pounds.

But the most surprising finding was that a lack of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone results in a huge increase in appetite and food consumption.

Research at Oregon Health and Sciences University found that going through the menopause boosted food intake by 67 per cent. Weight also went up by 5 per cent in a matter of weeks.

Leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells which is thought to play a role in promoting hunger, also increased.

The findings could help explain the phenomenon of middle-aged spread in women and raise the possibility of new treatments being developed to help combat it.

The study involved 47 female monkeys, 19 of which had their ovaries removed to induce the menopause. The animals were allowed to choose how much they ate.

The scientists noted a relationship between the loss of ovaries - which created a lack of hormones - and changes in metabolism, which could have made the monkeys more likely to put on weight.

Maryon Stewart, a nutritionist and expert in natural methods of combating the menopause, said that for many women weight gain during the menopause was the final straw in a range of distressing symptoms.

'Women may lose their libido and be suffering hot flushes and then end up piling on the pounds and that just makes matters worse,' she said.

She added that it was important for women to ensure they were getting enough nutrients as deficiencies of elements, such as magnesium, can lead to cravings.