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Perimenopausal Metabolic Shifts

Meaning

Perimenopausal Metabolic Shifts describe the significant, often detrimental, alterations in energy metabolism, body composition, and glucose and lipid homeostasis that are characteristic of the transition period preceding menopause. The fluctuating and declining levels of ovarian hormones, especially estrogen, fundamentally contribute to a marked increase in visceral adipose tissue accumulation and a corresponding reduction in insulin sensitivity. These shifts are clinically significant because they substantially elevate a woman’s long-term risk for developing cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.