Women's bodies undergo significant changes before, during and after menopause, often leading to weight gain.

Claire Jones, the founder of YourOneLife Healthy Weight Solutions, has shared some dietary adjustments that can help women manage this issue - including reducing alcohol intake.

She explained that weight gain around menopause is often due to a combination of factors, some within our control and others not. However, she emphasised that we have the power to choose how we respond to these changes.

Many of the women Claire works with struggle with weight management during menopause, often attributing their weight gain to this life stage. While it's true that menopause can be linked to weight gain, Claire reassures that it's not inevitable and can be managed.

She identified several common issues among menopausal women, including decreased physical activity leading to boredom-induced snacking, hectic lifestyles causing erratic eating patterns, loss of muscle mass due to ageing, hormonal changes affecting fat storage, stress, mood swings and brain fog.

These factors can contribute to sleep problems, substance use, and unhealthy eating habits, particularly involving high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, reports the Express.

Claire, a weight loss expert, has shared her top tips for losing weight during menopause, advocating for the 80/20 principle.

She explained: "If 80 per cent of our calorie intake is coming from nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods, we can then have 20 per cent of our calorie intake from whatever we fancy."

She also emphasised the importance of maintaining "a small calorie deficit" and ensuring adequate hydration, recommending women to "aim for two litres a day, as this supports weight loss in a variety of ways, as well as being important for good health."

However, she advised women to consider reducing their alcohol consumption due to its high caloric content and negative impact on weight. Claire stated: "As many people say, and I agree with - everything in moderation, as this is good advice."

She added: "Alcohol, however, is definitely worth considering cutting back on because of the impact it has on our weight in various ways." 

She revealed that alcohol contains seven calories per gram, meaning a typical bottle of wine equates to around 600 calories.

"It's a poison, so our bodies process it before food, meaning food calories we may eat are more likely to be stored as fat," she concluded.

Alcohol also has the effect of lowering inhibitions, making you less likely to stick to your goals and more likely to give in to temptation - possibly leading to overindulgence in both drinking and eating.