What about:
1- Estrogen Dominance (Dr. John Lee offers much insight into this.)
2 - Insulin Resistance
3 - Iodine deficiency (the thyroid increases the efficiency of our burning of nutrients at the cellular level)
I think every menopausal (Pre- and Post-) would benefit from reading: What Your Doctor may Not Tell You About Menopause by Dr. John R. Lee M.D. with Virginia Hopkins.
He may be an M.D. but he doesn't think like most of them do ....
Something else to consider..
Drema M.