Do all women gain weight around the middle at menopause?

by Janetta
(Gloucester)

My friend and I are both 53. She's skinny, always has been, eats what she likes, no midriff bulge. My belly just gets bigger, it's not fair. What's she doing that I'm not?

Elizabeth's reply:

Some things in life just aren't fair - and the genes we're born with are one of them! Your friend clearly comes from skinny stock, and she'll be less likely to put on weight for that reason. You, on the other hand, need to watch carefully what you eat and start building more exercise into your life. There's plenty of help on the site that can help you beat menopause weight gain and stay...if not skinny, at least sylph-like.