When a woman goes through menopause, the hormone changes — especially the decrease in estrogen — can lead to weight gain and belly fat, Dr. Knopman said. However, Dr. Salas-Whalen said that, in her experience, weight gain in older women doesn't necessarily correlate with menopause; it can also result from a slower metabolism in general.
Men metabolize their food differently because they don't have as many hormonal fluctuations, Dr. Knopman said. But they do gradually go through andropause, she explained, "which is when their testosterone levels decrease, and they can also start to gain weight in their stomach area."