Why Weight Gain Happens After 40 for Women (and Why Men Lose It Faster)
Many women notice that weight gain becomes more stubborn and challenging to lose after age 40. It can be frustrating, especially when it seems like men can hit the gym for a month and drop weight quickly, while you’re working just as hard with less noticeable results.
This difference comes down to the complexity of female hormones and the unique stressors women face, especially as they age. While men’s metabolism may respond more predictably to exercise, women's bodies are influenced by various factors, including hormone fluctuations, stress, and overall well-being.
Hormonal Shifts and Weight Gain
For women, post-40 weight gain is often tied to hormonal changes. As estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels shift, it can impact metabolism, fat distribution, and the body’s ability to burn calories efficiently. For example, declining estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause can cause the body to store more fat around the abdomen, even if your diet and exercise routine haven’t changed.
Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, can also play a huge role. Women often carry multiple responsibilities, leading to chronic stress. This can keep cortisol levels high, signaling your body to hold onto fat, especially around the midsection. It's the body’s way of protecting itself when it perceives stress.
Why Men Drop Weight Faster
Men typically have more muscle mass, which boosts their metabolism and helps burn more calories even at rest. Testosterone plays a major role in maintaining this muscle mass, which is why men often lose weight faster with exercise. Women, on the other hand, experience a drop in hormone levels as they age, which can lead to muscle loss and a slower metabolism. Additionally, female hormones interact with other bodily systems in a more complex way, often making weight loss slower.
Why Functional Lab Testing is Key to Unlocking Weight Loss
If you’ve been eating clean, exercising, and still aren’t seeing the scale move, it could be due to hidden stressors or imbalances within your body that are preventing weight loss. This is where functional lab testing comes in.
As a functional health practitioner (FDN-P), I use functional lab testing to uncover what’s truly going on beneath the surface. Often, the body holds onto weight because it doesn’t feel safe enough to let it go. It prioritizes survival over weight loss, and if there are stressors in the body, such as hidden infections, nutrient deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances, your body will store fat as a protective mechanism.
Here are a few common hidden stressors that can block weight loss:
Thyroid dysfunction: An underactive thyroid can slow your metabolism, leading to weight gain, fatigue, and difficulty losing weight.
Gut health imbalances: Infections like parasites or bacterial overgrowth can trigger inflammation, making it harder for your body to release fat.
Blood sugar dysregulation: Insulin resistance can develop over time, especially with chronic stress, making it more difficult for your body to burn fat efficiently.
Cortisol imbalances: High cortisol levels from chronic stress signal your body to hold onto fat, especially around the belly.
Low vital reserves: When your body is depleted of essential nutrients, it will struggle to maintain balance and may hold onto fat as a protective measure.
Functional lab testing can identify these vital voids and healing opportunities, allowing us to cut to the chase. When we know what’s out of balance, we can create a personalized plan to address these root causes, helping your body feel safe enough to release weight. Remember, weight is usually the last thing to go when there are underlying stressors, and functional lab testing helps pinpoint where to focus your efforts.
Getting Started with Holistic Health
Through functional lab testing, we can uncover these hidden stressors and imbalances so you’re not left guessing. By addressing the root causes, your body can regain its balance, making it easier to lose weight naturally.
If you’ve been struggling with weight gain after 40 and are tired of quick-fix solutions that don’t work, it may be time to take a deeper look. As a functional health practitioner specializing in holistic health, I’m here to guide you through this process and create a plan that’s tailored to your body’s unique needs.
Want to dive deeper into this topic? Check out my podcast episode on Confidently Balance Your Hormones, where I explore this exact issue and offer solutions. You can click here to listen.
For ongoing support and tons of health insights, join my free Facebook group, Confidently Healthy Collective. In this group, you’ll find more resources, connect with a like-minded community, and get tips for achieving lasting health.
Connect with me, Dee Davidson, FDN-P, to explore how functional medicine and functional lab testing can help you find the hidden obstacles preventing your body from releasing weight. Let's get to the root of the issue together!
Dee Davidson is a Functional Health Practitioner, hormone health expert, and advocate for personalized health and integrative care. With a focus on functional health and functional nutrition, Dee provides bio-individualized solutions to help clients restore balance. To learn more about how functional lab testing, functional medicine, and a holistic health approach can support your wellness journey, listen to her Confidently Balance Your Hormones podcast or schedule a discovery call at ConfidentlyLoveYourself.com.