Prevention and Causes of Midlife Weight Gain in Men

The male midlife weight gain crisis can best be characterized by the explanation of several things:

Many medical professionals will argue that there is what can be psychologically explained as a male menopausal effect that many men go through during what is commonly thought of as the midlife years. This male menopausal effect involves hormonal changes in men just as it does as in women and can result in many of the same conclusions.

Although the term menopause in women refers to cessation of menstruation, in men medical professionals have yet to come up with a viable term such as "andropause". In men typically ages 40 to 55 there are however hormonal and chemical changes that can occur resulting in everything from a loss of libido, which is one of the more common occurrences. The loss of libido is due to decreasing testosterone, the secondary response of this lack of testosterone is lack of muscle strength and hair as well as the lack of production of other hormones such as "DHEA".

What does appear to happen however is that "SHBG" of the protein called sex hormone binding globulin increases in midlife men and undermines their ability to make use of testosterone. Therefore many men will start desensitizing overtime and gradually whether you agree with medical professionals or take it as just a sign of age in general. Men start to sit around more, such as when the term couch potato syndrome was born. Bad eating habits, alcohol consumption and lack of physical activity overtime may also play an active role in midlife weight gain in men.

Not to mention retirement age, and relationship issues such as divorce in men seems to add to the slowing down of physical activity needed for the metabolism to maintain the needed level in which to burn off calories.

In order to prevent weight gain in men during midlife. Men should continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Eating a balanced diet of meat, fruits and vegetables is vital in maintaining a healthy metabolism.

Implementing an appropriate exercise routine and continuing to follow it on a daily basis can keep you not only physically fit but provide you with the necessary energy in which to carry out your day.

Weight gain for men during midlife not only slows the metabolism but also brings about mental changes that are hard to deal with. Hence the "grumpy old man" term. It is therefore important for anyone including men to maintain a good weight and physical aspect in order for them to feel good about themselves. Unfortunately women have dealt with this over the years and now men are just beginning to have to acknowledge that they also must deal with the same effects of midlife such as weight gain.

References for this article include: Menshealth.about.com and Mens-health.com