Body weight is like sand on a beach. It comes and goes, mainly in small amounts. But sometimes it builds up to a big wide beach, and other times it thins out, depending on the amount of sand available.

With weight gain, this generally occurs slowly over a lifetime. However, there are some life stages and some life events where the risk is greater. It's worth being aware of these so you can take action – either before or during – to minimise the effect. Here's a list identified by Professor Garry Egger for men and women:

Life Stages Life Events Men And Women

Men	Women	Men	Women
Puberty Mid-Life (40 yrs)	Puberty Peri-menopause Menopause		Pregnancy Childbirth (Not) Breastfeeding
		Marriage Quitting smoking Quitting sport Holidays Changing a job Grief and bereavement Festive occasions Divorce/separation After slimming

Life stages

Puberty is a time in boys and girls where cell numbers in most parts of the body increase rapidly. If the lifestyle is poor (lack of exercise and bad nutrition) a greater number of body fat cells can develop, making weight loss later in life difficult.

The peri-menopause in women is the 1-2 years leading up to the menopause. Increases in body weight is most marked here, but can continue into the menopause as female hormones decline and fat is re-distributed from the lower to the upper body. Research has shown that traditionally living tribal women and those who remain active during this period do not gain weight, suggesting this is a lifestyle-based cause in other women.

In men, a less marked stage occurs in mid-life, around 40 years of age, where a slowdown in metabolism, reduced activity levels and often an increase in food and drink make preventing weight gain much more difficult than in the earlier years.

Life events

The most fattening life event in modern women is pregnancy. Increases in body weight here are normal, but unfortunately many women put on more than is required and then have trouble losing it after childbirth. The more children (at least more than two), the greater the chances of weight gain. Breastfeeding and a quick return to exercise are ways of reducing the effects of this.

Other life events that can increase body fat for both sexes include marriage (possibly because of the reduced effort chasing what is now 'on tap'), and quitting smoking. The latter occurs largely because of the reduced metabolism that comes from eliminating nicotine, which incidentally, appears to last for several years. Improved taste and not having something to do with the hands, also contributes to an increased food intake.

Quitting sport is another life event that can lead to weight gain, with the greatest potential gains occurring in those competing at an elite level who then become sedentary.

What to do about critical periods?

The most important thing is to be aware that critical periods exist and can lead to increases in body weight. In most cases working through these before trying to lose weight can be the best tactic in order to prevent weight gain.

For more information on maintaining a healthy weight go to www.lifestylemedicine.net.au.

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