Mid Life Question:

Weight gain is not so much a result of meno-pause as of middle age. About one in four women aged 35 to 64 years is overweight. Metabolism slows as you age, so your body takes longer to burn up the food you eat. Women have about 25 percent body fat, compared with 15 percent for men. This extra fat makes it easier for women to gain weight and harder to lose it.
In general, it's best not to exceed weight guidelines for your height.