Women in perimenopause and menopause may experience creeping weight gain, but not due to less exercise or poor diet.Women in perimenopause and menopause may experience creeping weight gain, but not due to less exercise or poor diet.

In fact, hormones play a large role in the development of an expanding belly.

Weak adrenal glands, too much estrogen, and certain chemicals can all be root causes.

Too much copper in your body can also contribute, including copper from an IUD, high-copper foods, and exposure to copper pots and pans. Enhance your zinc consumption to balance copper-zinc levels.

Want to learn more?

Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, author of Before the Change: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause, joins Dr. Bond to discuss all the reasons you might be experiencing unwanted weight gain, the missing nutritional elements that may be in play, what foods women 35+ should be eating, and the best types of exercise to combat hormone-related weight gain.