Why do Women’s Bodies Change Shape as they get Older?

Women are generally pear shaped, storing fat around the hips and thighs until after menopause, when their bodies tend to become more apple shaped, laying down fat around the middle. The change in fat distribution is brought about by the shift in hormonal make up at menopause, bringing women more in line with men in terms of fat related health risks for conditions such as heart disease.
While we all tend to put on between one and two kilos a year as we get older, a dramatic increase in body fat – especially abdominal fat – is never a good thing.