Menopausal weight gain is so frustrating for women (me included, I've battled weight issues my entire life.) There actually is something to the theory that the decline of estrogen (along with a number of other factors) does affect weight gain in women going through the menopausal transition. Check out this article from Medical-News.net, and pay particular attention to the first paragraph of the second page (and yes, I am aware that the article is a little dense for those of us who are not medical professionals!)