Midlife weight gain: GLP-1 medications and hormone therapy are discussed

The article reports that falling estrogen in perimenopause and menopause shifts fat toward the abdomen and that a 2024 study found women on both semaglutide and hormone therapy lost more weight than those on semaglutide alone; it also notes common GLP‑1 side effects and concerns about muscle loss.

The article reports that many people in perimenopause and menopause experience weight gain, especially around the abdomen. It attributes these changes primarily to declining estrogen and to broader environmental factors such as processed foods and more sedentary lifestyles. The piece highlights recent research on combining GLP‑1 medications with menopause hormone therapy and describes reported benefits and trade-offs. It also raises concerns about common side effects and the potential for muscle mass loss during treatment. Key points: - The article explains that falling estrogen during the menopause transition is linked with more abdominal (visceral) fat and that up to about 70 percent of women may gain weight during this period. - It reports a 2024 study in the journal Menopause that found postmenopausal women using semaglutide plus hormone therapy had greater weight loss at multiple checkpoints than those on semaglutide alone. - The article notes that hormone therapy has been reported to reduce visceral fat gain and to improve insulin sensitivity in some studies. - It also states common GLP‑1 medication side effects reported include nausea, constipation, and reduced appetite, and that reduced appetite can make maintaining protein intake and muscle mass more challenging. Summary: The article presents research showing an association between combined GLP‑1 treatment and hormone therapy and larger weight loss and metabolic improvements in the cited study, while also noting reported side effects and muscle loss concerns. Undetermined at this time.