Why Medical Weight Loss can be Beneficial During Menopause and Perimenopause
Let me share some thoughts about why medical weight loss can be particularly beneficial during menopause and perimenopause.
The Menopausal Weight Loss Challenge
During the menopausal transition, women face unique physiological changes that can make weight management especially challenging. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly the decline in oestrogen, create several metabolic changes:
1. Fat Distribution Changes
During menopause, the body tends to redistribute fat to the abdominal area, creating what's often called "menopause belly." This visceral fat is metabolically active and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health conditions. Medical weight loss programs can help with overall weight loss and fat reduction. Body composition scans can also help to show changes in in body fat composition.
2. Muscle Mass Reduction
The hormonal changes during menopause accelerate the natural loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), which leads to:
Decreased resting metabolic rate (you burn less calories just sitting still than you used to)
Reduced strength and functional capacity
Increased risk of insulin resistance
Medical weight loss programs can help counteract these changes through:
Targeted protein recommendations to preserve muscle mass
Customized exercise prescriptions focusing on strength training – wondering why women are now told to “lift heavy weights” rather than being told to “feel the (cardio) burn”
3. Metabolic Changes
Menopause triggers several metabolic adaptations:
Increased insulin resistance
Changes in hunger and satiety hormone (how easy it is to feel full when you eat)
Altered energy expenditure (see above, sitting still just does less for you than before)!
Disrupted sleep patterns affecting metabolism
A medical weight loss program can address these changes through:
Medication selection that targets specific metabolic pathways
Hormone level monitoring and management
Personalized nutrition plans that account for changing metabolic needs
Pathways to gyms and PTs that understand your needs and support your goals
4. Quality of Life Improvements
Medical weight loss during menopause can help manage common symptoms:
Hot flashes (which often improve with weight loss)
Sleep disruptions
Mood changes
Joint pain
Energy levels
The Medical Advantage
What makes medical weight loss particularly effective for menopausal women:
1. Hormone-Aware Approach
Medical providers can:
Monitor hormone levels and their effects on weight
Adjust treatments based on individual hormone profiles
Coordinate with other healthcare providers managing hormone therapy – NUYU Newcastle also has an in-house GP who can do full menopause reviews.
Make evidence-based recommendations for supplements and medications
2. Personalised Medication Options
Providers can prescribe medications that specifically address menopausal weight challenges:
GLP-1 agonists that help regulate insulin and reduce abdominal fat might be an option for you that you can discuss with a medical practitioner
Medications that help manage mood and sleep disruptions
Treatments that support bone health during weight loss
3. Comprehensive Health Monitoring
Regular medical supervision ensures:
Bone density is maintained during weight loss
Cardiovascular health is monitored
Metabolic health markers are tracked
Nutritional adequacy is maintained
4. Long-term Success Strategies
Medical weight loss programs provide:
Sustainable eating patterns that account for age-related nutritional needs
Exercise recommendations safe for changing bone density
Behavioral strategies for managing stress eating and emotional changes
Ongoing support and accountability, we are here to be your weight loss cheerleaders
5. Management of Concurrent Health Issues
Many women develop other health conditions during menopause that can affect weight management:
Thyroid dysfunction
Blood pressure changes
Cholesterol level changes
Blood sugar regulation issues
Medical weight loss providers can coordinate care with other healthcare providers to ensure all health conditions are properly managed while pursuing weight loss goals.
Success Factors
For menopausal and perimenopausal women, medical weight loss tends to be most successful when it:
Takes a gradual, sustainable approach
Focuses on body composition rather than just weight
Includes regular monitoring and adjustment of the treatment plan
Incorporates stress management and sleep optimization
Provides education about the unique challenges of menopause
Builds a supportive community with other women facing similar challenges
This medically supervised approach helps women navigate the complex hormonal and metabolic changes of menopause while achieving their weight management goals in a healthy, sustainable way. The comprehensive nature of medical weight loss programs makes them particularly well-suited to address the multifaceted challenges of menopausal weight gain.