Weight loss, the menopause and 'starvation mode'

A couple of queries have come up recently, which we wanted to address, surrounding the menopause and whether a low calorie diet may send your body into 'starvation mode'.

To help answer these questions, Slimavite nutritionist, Melanie Bibby, has given us her expert view.

Melanie says: "As we get older we need less calories every day, but as creatures of habit we generally do not reduce the amount of food that we eat. This can lead to gradual weight gain.

"After the menopause, women start to accumulate fat around their middle rather than on their legs. These two factors combined can lead a lot of post-menopausal women to want to lose weight.

"Very low calorie diets, such as consuming 800 kcals a day, are not the best option for weight loss as your body thinks that it is in starvation mode, when it is fed so few calories.

"The body cleverly hangs onto every energy reserve it can as it's not sure when your next meal is coming. By adopting a reduced calorie regime, such as Slimavite’s Bite Plan, you will be feeding your body enough energy to function, but combined with regular exercise, you will be in negative energy balance (ie you will use more calories than you consume).

"A reduction of 500 kcals/per day can lead to weight loss of 1-2 lbs per week. You will then start losing weight, but, more importantly, you have more chance of keeping the weight off, as unlike a 800 kcals/day diet, you can follow a reduced calorie plan such as Slimavite’s Bite Plan for longer."