Dr Amir Khan has said that weight gain around the tummy after menopause is a 'normal, natural' part of ageing for women.
The GP made the comments in a clip from his podcast No Appointment Necessary, posted to his Instagram account. He explained that hormonal changes during menopause cause fat to be stored differently on the body.
“Dr Amir Khan says belly fat after menopause is normal and natural for women.”
Before menopause, fat is usually distributed around the hips, thighs and buttocks. 'That fat distribution is completely normal and healthy and women should have fat there, you don't want to lose it,' he said. He added that it is 'really good for your fertility' and 'for your overall health'.
After menopause, as hormone levels shift, fat tends to deposit around the tummy and hips – a change sometimes called a 'meno belly'. Dr Khan said: 'It's not really a great term but it is just the shift of weight, really.' He described it as 'normal, natural, not the end of the world, part of being a woman, an adult woman'.
His co-host Cherry Healey said: 'Lots of women find that when they go through perimenopause and menopause, they gain weight.'
The NHS website supports this, stating: 'Weight gain during perimenopause and menopause is common. It often happens around the stomach and upper body.'
Menopause typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, when hormone levels drop and periods stop. Symptoms can include hot flushes, mood swings and brain fog.
Dr Khan's advice offers reassurance to women who may be concerned about changes in their body shape during this life stage.