[Relationships between weight and menopause]

Weight gain seen around the time of the menopause justifies a therapeutic action. It seems to be linked more to the effects of age than to the menopause itself. It often causes abdominal obesity which increases vascular risk and predisposes to raised blood pressure. The ability of adipose tissue to concentrate androgens and estrogens probably explains the higher incidence of genital carcinomas in overweight post-menopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy does not seem to have any untoward effects on weight.