Mid-life can bring with it the unwanted gift of extra pounds. Is it menopause? Is it a malfunctioning thyroid? How to tell the difference?
Decreased thyroid levels from an underactive thyroid slows things down -- brain, bowels, and heart beat. As less energy is used up, more is stored as fat. You are liable to feel cold as less heat is created, and skin can become dry as the sweat glands have also slowed down.
Menopause can bring hot flushes, rapid or erratic heart beat, and mood swings. Thinking can get foggy. Sex drive may take a nose-dive, and the lining of the wall of the vagina may become dryer. Weight may begin to increase, and fatigue may be constant.
"There's no magic formula for avoiding weight gain as you get older. The strategies for maintaining a healthy weight at any age remain the same: Watch what you eat and get moving."
http://www.healthandage.com/menopause-or-thyroid-what-is-causing-my-weight-gain