Many women do not realize that any weight gain after the age of 50 greatly increases a woman’s risk of having serious health issues related to their weight such as heart disease. Cutting down on caloric intake is a wonderful way for women of any age to work on maintaining a healthy weight and to assist women in losing weight.

Many studies have shown that with diets for women over 50, life expectancy can be increased drastically. Lots of women put on weight during menopause due to hormonal changes but eating right can help women who are going through menopause to prevent drastic weight gain and the serious health issues that are related to being obese or overweight.

How are Menopause and Weight Gain Related?

At around the age of 50, a large percentage of women start to have the symptoms of menopause. Some women experience these symptoms earlier or later, but the age of 50 is about average. Levels of certain hormones drop as women age and these dropping hormone levels cause women to gain fat and to also lose muscle tone which can lead to weight gain.

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With the decreased muscle mass, women also see their metabolism slow down which then may lead to weight gain. Whatever the reason for weight gain, a woman over 50 who is overweight has an increased risk of breast cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and a ton of other bad repercussions. Diets for women over 50 should include foods that are good sources of fiber, foods that are lower in sugar and lean proteins too.

Heart Health for Women Over 50

Did you know that around 8 million women in the US are suffering from heart disease, and that women are much more likely to encounter heart disease after the age of 50 due to lower estrogen levels?

By the age of 60, women are just as likely as men to have heart disease. By eating a diet that is high in fiber, low in fat and low in cholesterol you can greatly reduce your likelihood of getting heart diseases or having a heart attack.