During postmenopause, the body adapts to lower estrogen levels by redistributing fat, often toward the midsection. Muscle mass also naturally declines with age, which further reduces calorie burn at rest. Stress hormones like cortisol may rise, making weight management more challenging. These factors explain why traditional dieting often feels ineffective during this stage of life. Weight gain is not a failure of willpower but a physiological response that deserves informed care and hormone support.