Challenges and Solutions in Menopause Weight Management & Cardio-Metabolic Risk Reduction

Looking good and feeling good in our younger years seemed so easy! I remember eating 1/2 a pizza or two hamburgers and easily maintaining my girlish figure.  But as I aged and moved into the menopause transition, so did my body fat!  It moved to places I was not expecting or thrilled about…the worst being “belly fat”, otherwise known as the dreaded menoPOT Belly!  I exercise, eat pretty healthy but Ms. Central Adiposity just sits there mocking me, day in and day out.  And to make matters worse…all we hear from our providers is eat less, workout harder!  Pretty soon I will be running all day and eating 5 cheerios to maintain my weight. 

At Coastal Well Woman, we not only hear you, but we understand the weight loss and management challenges because we lived it!

As we age, lean muscle declines, and fat distribution changes. Central adiposity or “Belly Fat” becomes much more common as menopause approaches and takes over. In menopause almost all women will notice a change in body fat distribution as they move through the menopause journey.  Women who are symptomatic experience sleep disturbance, hot flashes and mood changes may also be experiencing fatigue, lack of energy or motivation thus further confounding the issue.

We know hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has demonstrated positive effects agains these negative body fat distribution.  But, HRT is not the end all be all, so it is important to have a sustainable exercise program and good nutrition.   In some cases women may be at risk for cardiovascular metabolic disease as weight increases and fat deposits itself in the central region of the body increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks.

We also know CVD is one of the major leading causes of death in women!  So we need to take this seriously and explore all appropriate options to reduce CVD in women, including the new array of weight loss medications.  Adding what is known as a GLP1 agonists, GIP and GLP1 combo (e.g., semaglutide, tirzapatide, etc.) to a balanced diet and robust exercise program should provide actionable, manageable and sustainable results for women in their menopause journey.

In a recent study conducted by Mayo Clinic, women using and not using HRT and semaglutide were evaluated for weight loss and changes in cardiometabolic markers. All women demonstrated significant weight loss and improvement in their cardio-metabolic markers.  The women in HRT + semaglutide group showed the most significant results, although both groups demonstrated positive effects of semaglutide use in menopause.

Contact Coastal Well Woman today to explore your menopause and weight management options.  We strive to support you through menopause evaluation and management,  providing nutrition and exercise guidelines, while exploring the role of a GLP1 agonist as part of your treatment plan.  Let’s work together to optimize your menopause health, wellness and overall cardio-metabolic status for the long haul! 

Reference:

1.Hurtado, Maria D. MD, PhD1,2; Tama, Elif MD1,2; Fansa, Sima MD2; Ghusn, Wissam MD2; Anazco, Diego MD2; Acosta, Andres MD, PhD2; Faubion, Stephanie S. MD, MBA, MSCP3,4; Shufelt, Chrisandra L. MD, MS, MSCP3,4. Weight loss response to semaglutide in postmenopausal women with and without hormone therapy use. Menopause 31(4):p 266-274, April 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002310

[https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/fulltext/2024/04000/weight_
loss_response_to_semaglutide_in.4.aspx]