Many women indicate losing or even maintaining weight after menopause is difficult, and now a study from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge sheds light on why. Scientists have found that women have a lower metabolism after menopause. The research shows that postmenopausal women burned 100 to 150 fewer calories a day just resting and doing everyday activities, and they were less physically active, for an overall average decrease of 200 calories a day burned after menopause. The lower metabolism could be tied to lower estrogen levels, not muscle loss, says lead researcher Jennifer Lovejoy, formerly with Pennington. And it looks as if lower estrogen may increase appetite and cause cravings for carbohydrates and fats, she says. So watch out for cookies, cakes and chips.