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Depression has been associated with weight gain or weight loss. It’s usually a matter of degree; when people are mild to moderately depressed, they tend to eat more. Some people refer to this as “stress eating.” When someone is very depressed, they sometimes stop eating altogether and, in severe cases, may even have to be hospitalized and fed intravenously. There is a known association between decreased serotonin – which is associated with depression – and increased appetite/hunger. (Interestingly, studies have shown that people with anorexia nervosa have abnormally increased serotonin activity which may partly explain how they can eat so little.)

BMI is an abbreviation for body mass index and is a calculation used to estimate a person’s body fat based on their weight and height. It applies equally for both men and women. It is a common measurement used by clinicians and health experts to gauge a person’s risk for developing serious diseases such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered ‘normal’ weight; 25 to 29.9 is ‘overweight’; and 30 or more is ‘obese’. You can manually calculate your BMI, by using this formula: multiply your weight in pounds by 703. Divide the answer by your height in inches. Then divide this result again by your height in inches. The final result is your BMI. This calculation applies to both men and women.

The difference between being “overweight” and being “obese” is a matter of degree and can be determined by calculating the person’s BMI (body mass index).
The body mass index is a calculation used to estimate a person’s body fat based on their weight and height. It applies equally for both men and women. It is a common measurement used by clinicians and health experts to gauge a person’s risk for developing serious diseases such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered ‘normal’ weight; 25 to 29.9 is ‘overweight’; and 30 or more is ‘obese’.

The greater one’s weight, the greater the health risk. Compared to someone at a healthy weight, a person who is obese is at “high” to “very high” risk for coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea, infertility, gynecological problems, gallstones, osteoarthritis, as well as endometrial, breast, prostate and colon cancers. Obesity is also associated with an earlier death.

While menopause may not directly cause weight gain, it can contribute to it. As we age, our metabolism slows, hormone levels change, and we tend to be less physically active. One ongoing, long-term study of women before, during and after menopause has shown that women tend to gain more weight during and after menopause. Paying close attention to your eating habits, and making a conscious commitment to remaining physically active, can help offset the weight gain many women experience during menopause.