How menopause 'crushes your motivation to exercise'

• Many postmenopausal women experience weight gain, no drive to work out
• Scientists have struggled to explain the exact reason for this side effect
• Now a study has found a link between ovaries and dopamine in the brain
• Exercise drives up dopamine levels in the brain's pleasure center

For many women, working out is completely different after menopause hits.

They feel lethargic, unmotivated, and don't get the same buzz from a run or a zumba class as they did before.

 

But scientists have struggled to offer a specific reason for this, aside from general hormonal changes.

Now, however, a team at the University of Missouri has identified a link between ovarian hormones and dopamine levels in the brain, which make exercise feel so good. 

 

It could signal the start of new research to help women treat overwhelming lethargy and improve their motivation to stay active.

'Postmenopausal women are more susceptible to weight gain and health issues,' said Dr Victoria Vieira-Potter, who specializes in nutrition and exercise physiology at MU.

'This is especially frustrating for women, who already are dealing with significant changes to their bodies.

'We found that the decrease in physical activity that leads to weight gain may be caused by changes in brain activity.'

The menopause, which tends to strike by the early 50s, can cause mood swings, depression and anxiety.

In many cases, it affects a woman's drive to move, and many women gain weight during this time.  

To examine this side effect, Dr Vieira-Potter's study tracked the physical activity of rats - some that were physically fit and some that were not.

First they monitored their fitness levels and the level of activity in the pleasure center of their brains

.

Then they removed their ovaries to mimic the effects of menopause, when women stop producing estrogen in such significant quantities.

Both groups - no matter how physically active they were before - showed dramatic reductions in their motivation to run on a running wheel.

All of the rats also experienced a drop in the amount of dopamine in the pleasure center of their brain.

It suggests the hormonal changes experienced during menopause could impact on the brain, and that could be the process that hampers physical activity.

'We found that in both groups of rats, the hormonal changes from menopause led to changes in the brain that translated to less physical activity,' Dr Vieira-Potter said.

'The findings confirm previous evidence in humans and rodents that weight gain that occurs after menopause is likely due to decreased overall physical activity rather than increased energy intake from diet.

'Understanding what is causing the decrease in activity and subsequent weight gain may allow us to intervene, possibly by activating dopamine receptors, to preserve the motivation to be physically active.'

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes

https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement