Even if a woman has never had a weight problem , she may find it harder to manage her weight or to take off pounds once she approaches and reaches menopause.

If you are one of the many women who struggle with this, you may be interested in the results of a recent study that looked at what helped postmenopausal women lose weight and keep it off for the long term.

According to the researchers who conducted the study, there is a combination of factors that make it difficult for anyone to maintain weight loss.  As one example, at the beginning of a weight-loss program, people may be highly motivated, but once they lose some weight their motivation may decrease. They go back to their old eating habits.