Why women stuggle to unload those fat, middle-aged tummies

carolethecatlover · 11-10-2003, 07:48 PM

The round tummies many women develop in middle age are not just a result of easing up on diets and exercise but appear to be an inevitable part of ageing as well as a possible cause of health problems. After menopause, abdominal fat is much more inert, says professor Susan Davis from Melbourne. She took fat samples from 30 healthy women aged 43 to 5, 10 prior to menopause, 10 after menopause, 10 taking HRT. In the middle years, female fat became more adept at producing and storing oestrogen. This could help explain why breast cancer risk is highest after menopause when the amount of oestrogen in the bloodstream is at its lowest level. Menopause also determined the susceptibility of stomach fat to insulin. The findings are presented at the Australasian Menopause Society's national congress in Hobart, Tasmania, this week.
It is wrongly assumed that women no longer produce oestrogen after menopause, but in fact it was produced in fat, the adrenal glands, bones and at several other sites. Professor Davis believes her hypothesis, that fat-based oestrogen may be more important in fuelling early breast cancer than circulating oestrogen, could offer a new target for drugs to intercept the hormone from that source only.

Zib · 11-10-2003, 08:24 PM

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this.

Dakini · 11-10-2003, 08:39 PM

Interesting article, thanks for posting. But why is there an "o" in front of the work estrogen?

TheaKat · 11-10-2003, 08:45 PM

Oestrogen is the British spelling for our Estrogen...same pronunciation though

CartBabe · 11-10-2003, 09:36 PM

Okay, this is my situation exactly. SO, WHAT IS THE REMEDY???????

I have researched this til I was blue in the face, and I would LOVE TO HAVE some REAL answers. 36 years old with a complete hysterectomy......and NOT ready to give into that (103 pounds lost since hyst, but the tummy is awful)

Diana · 11-11-2003, 04:46 AM

I agree the remedy?

Sharon · 11-11-2003, 05:28 AM

I'm post-menopausal. Up to age 50 I weighed 120 and then overnight I gained up to probably 160. I race walk with lots of ladies in my age group and none of us now have tummies. I lost the weight with Atkins and keep toned with race walking along with skiing. I also refuse to take HRT.

nonstickpam107 · 11-11-2003, 06:53 AM

Well, that would NOT explain why when I was tested my estrogen was ZERO, now would it? I don't "refuse" to take bio-equivalent estradiol because....the thyroid doesn't "work" without estradiol and progesterone.

My middle aged spread went down in a big "fat" hurry once my estradiol levels were balanced along with my adrenals levels, and thyroid hormones.

Although I ate a high fat (Atkins) diet, none of that fat gave me enough estrogen at all. Estradiol is what gives young women their "flat" tummies. When you are POST-meno, you make hardly any estradiol at all....and that can, in turn, be a reason for 2 out of every 20 post-meno women going hypothyroid (either with Hashimoto's, or clinical)---when your hormones are unbalanced, than they are ALL affected.

So far, in one of the groups I am in, over 200 women that are post-meno and have been tested about every three to six months for their hormone levels (female hormones, as well as adrenal and thyroid hormones) on a lowcarb/high fat regimen---NONE have seen any estrogen coming from their fat---either in their body OR from their diet. Hmmmm....and almost ALL of them saw the hypothyroid symptoms come on from low estrogens---meaning not ALL of these post-meno women were hypo before menopause, and not ALL of them stayed hypo once they were on a correct replacement of bio-equivalent hormones.

Pam

230/115/115

i_chihuahua · 11-11-2003, 06:55 AM

OK, where can I get some of this 'estradiol' stuff?

nonstickpam107 · 11-11-2003, 07:46 AM

Estradiol is one of the estrogens that your body makes. First you go to the doc (my endo Rx's mine) and get a test for FSH, and estradiol, estriol, estrone, and depending on what your test is, your doc can Rx BIO-EQUIVALENT compounded (I am urging bio-equivalent cuz the ones that have been in the news lately.....about cancer....are made from horse pee---not the same as what your body makes) estradiol.

Would be a good idea, while you are being tested for female hormones, to also be tested for thyroid (if you are already hypothyroid and taking meds, please know that your thyroid meds may need to be increased when using HRT).

I get the transdermal gel --- rubbed on skin, not ingested by mouth which then has to go through the liver.

There ARE natural (not bio-equivalent, but close) estradiol patches on the market, too, one that comes to mind would be the Vivelle Dot. If you have a uterus, you will still have to also use progesterone to "oppose" the estradiol and to shed uterine lining. My progesterone is also compounded, and transdermal.

Pam

230/115/115

CartBabe · 11-11-2003, 10:39 AM

THANK YOU nostickpam.............I have made an appt with my doctor, d/t this post....

11-10-2003, 07:48 PM	#1
carolethecatlover Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 425 Gallery: carolethecatlover Stats: 81/75/64 kilos WOE: atkins Start Date: January 2001	Why women stuggle to unload those fat, middle-aged tummies The round tummies many women develop in middle age are not just a result of easing up on diets and exercise but appear to be an inevitable part of ageing as well as a possible cause of health problems. After menopause, abdominal fat is much more inert, says professor Susan Davis from Melbourne. She took fat samples from 30 healthy women aged 43 to 5, 10 prior to menopause, 10 after menopause, 10 taking HRT. In the middle years, female fat became more adept at producing and storing oestrogen. This could help explain why breast cancer risk is highest after menopause when the amount of oestrogen in the bloodstream is at its lowest level. Menopause also determined the susceptibility of stomach fat to insulin. The findings are presented at the Australasian Menopause Society's national congress in Hobart, Tasmania, this week. It is wrongly assumed that women no longer produce oestrogen after menopause, but in fact it was produced in fat, the adrenal glands, bones and at several other sites. Professor Davis believes her hypothesis, that fat-based oestrogen may be more important in fuelling early breast cancer than circulating oestrogen, could offer a new target for drugs to intercept the hormone from that source only. __________________ Carole

11-10-2003, 08:45 PM	#4
TheaKat Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Missouri Posts: 105 Gallery: TheaKat Stats: 257/220/150 5'4" WOE: Atkins Start Date: 6/09/03	Dakini Oestrogen is the British spelling for our Estrogen...same pronunciation though

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11-10-2003, 08:24 PM	#2
Zib MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: usually at home Posts: 1,569 Gallery: Zib WOE: Atkins Start Date: Summer 1998	Very interesting. Thanks for posting this.

11-10-2003, 08:39 PM	#3
Dakini Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: California Posts: 3,544 Gallery: Dakini	Interesting article, thanks for posting. But why is there an "o" in front of the work estrogen?

11-10-2003, 09:36 PM	#5
CartBabe MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 2,665 Gallery: CartBabe WOE: Low carb/low calorie	Okay, this is my situation exactly. SO, WHAT IS THE REMEDY??????? I have researched this til I was blue in the face, and I would LOVE TO HAVE some REAL answers. 36 years old with a complete hysterectomy......and NOT ready to give into that (103 pounds lost since hyst, but the tummy is awful)

11-11-2003, 04:46 AM	#6
Diana Allergic to Carbs- I break out in Fat! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 34,973 Gallery: Diana Stats: 176.5/138.8/134 (5'3") WOE: The Original Atkins Start Date: 8/11/03 Restart 4/08	I agree the remedy?

11-11-2003, 05:28 AM	#7
Sharon Come join us on the Game Board Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: retired now - I ski 40+ days annually and do marathons. 1st TIME GRANDMOTHER 6/18/07 Posts: 100,733 Gallery: Sharon Stats: 156/124/135 5'6" 63 y/o - GO UCLA - BEAT USC WOE: Atkins - low sodium and fresh food - STAY POSITIVE Start Date: 4/5/03 -------- McCAIN/PALIN in 2008	I'm post-menopausal. Up to age 50 I weighed 120 and then overnight I gained up to probably 160. I race walk with lots of ladies in my age group and none of us now have tummies. I lost the weight with Atkins and keep toned with race walking along with skiing. I also refuse to take HRT.

11-11-2003, 06:53 AM	#8
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 12,127 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	Well, that would NOT explain why when I was tested my estrogen was ZERO, now would it? I don't "refuse" to take bio-equivalent estradiol because....the thyroid doesn't "work" without estradiol and progesterone. My middle aged spread went down in a big "fat" hurry once my estradiol levels were balanced along with my adrenals levels, and thyroid hormones. Although I ate a high fat (Atkins) diet, none of that fat gave me enough estrogen at all. Estradiol is what gives young women their "flat" tummies. When you are POST-meno, you make hardly any estradiol at all....and that can, in turn, be a reason for 2 out of every 20 post-meno women going hypothyroid (either with Hashimoto's, or clinical)---when your hormones are unbalanced, than they are ALL affected. So far, in one of the groups I am in, over 200 women that are post-meno and have been tested about every three to six months for their hormone levels (female hormones, as well as adrenal and thyroid hormones) on a lowcarb/high fat regimen---NONE have seen any estrogen coming from their fat---either in their body OR from their diet. Hmmmm....and almost ALL of them saw the hypothyroid symptoms come on from low estrogens---meaning not ALL of these post-meno women were hypo before menopause, and not ALL of them stayed hypo once they were on a correct replacement of bio-equivalent hormones. Pam 230/115/115

11-11-2003, 06:55 AM	#9
i_chihuahua Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Danville VA Posts: 173 Gallery: i_chihuahua Stats: 185/155/135 WOE: Atkins with a twist Start Date: 6/30/03	OK, where can I get some of this 'estradiol' stuff?

11-11-2003, 07:46 AM	#10
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 12,127 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	Estradiol is one of the estrogens that your body makes. First you go to the doc (my endo Rx's mine) and get a test for FSH, and estradiol, estriol, estrone, and depending on what your test is, your doc can Rx BIO-EQUIVALENT compounded (I am urging bio-equivalent cuz the ones that have been in the news lately.....about cancer....are made from horse pee---not the same as what your body makes) estradiol. Would be a good idea, while you are being tested for female hormones, to also be tested for thyroid (if you are already hypothyroid and taking meds, please know that your thyroid meds may need to be increased when using HRT). I get the transdermal gel --- rubbed on skin, not ingested by mouth which then has to go through the liver. There ARE natural (not bio-equivalent, but close) estradiol patches on the market, too, one that comes to mind would be the Vivelle Dot. If you have a uterus, you will still have to also use progesterone to "oppose" the estradiol and to shed uterine lining. My progesterone is also compounded, and transdermal. Pam 230/115/115

11-11-2003, 10:39 AM	#11
CartBabe MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 2,665 Gallery: CartBabe WOE: Low carb/low calorie	THANK YOU nostickpam.............I have made an appt with my doctor, d/t this post....