Hormones and Weight Loss After Menopause

For many women, menopause slows down your metabolism, making it difficult to lose extra weight. Perhaps you’re feeling frustrated because your weight isn’t budging, even though you feel like you’re doing all the right things. Weight loss for women after menopause is possible, but it requires learning a new way to approach losing weight. 

By learning about how your hormones affect postmenopausal weight loss, you can better understand what changes may be happening inside your body – which gives you the power to take control of your health and make informed decisions that are tailored to meet your specific needs.

Because hormonal change is such a significant factor in postmenopausal weight management, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be a highly effective option for you to successfully achieve a healthy bodyweight. Contact us to book an appointment to find out how we can help find the right weight loss solution for you.

The Role of Hormones in Weight Gain After Menopause

Weight loss for women is more difficult after menopause due to hormonal changes and can be improved with hormone replacement therapy.

Menopausal women often experience weight gain due to fluctuating hormones. As estrogen levels decrease during menopause, the body’s fat distribution changes. You begin to gain more fat in the abdomen and around your internal organs. This is called visceral fat, and can actively increase the risk of other serious health problems, such as:

• High Blood Pressure
• Stroke
• Heart Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes

Other hormones like cortisol and insulin also change during menopause and can negatively impact your metabolism. Going through menopause can cause stress levels to rise, meaning a higher level of cortisol will be present in your body. High cortisol levels can cause you to crave sugary and fatty foods. Meanwhile, your reduced estrogen can also make you more sensitive to insulin, which raises your blood sugar levels. High blood sugar causes your body to store fat more quickly.

Understanding these hormonal changes is the first step toward maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the chance of other health risks after menopause.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Boosts Weight Loss and Improves Well-Being

HRT provides relief for many of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes and sleep issues. When administered under the care of our qualified providers, hormone replacement can be a safe and natural option for postmenopausal women who want to improve their health. 

For postmenopausal women struggling with stubborn weight gain, hormone replacement is also an effective method to help promote weight loss. By replenishing your depleted estrogen and progesterone hormones, metabolism is supported so your body is able to more efficiently utilize fat stores for energy. 

With HRT, not only can you start regaining control over your weight, but you can have more energy and an improved sense of well-being. When combined with practical lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, good sleep, and reduced stress, you can start to feel like yourself again.

Consume a Balanced Diet to Lose Weight After Menopause

For postmenopausal women looking to lose weight, consuming a balanced diet with the right nutrients is key to managing hormone changes. Eating the right amount of calories your body needs each day not only provides energy but gives you the right amount of nutrition to fuel your body. Although every woman’s specific nutritional needs are slightly different, general nutrition guidelines after menopause include:

• Fewer calories
• Less iron
• Lower fiber
• More calcium
• Higher Vitamin D and B-6

A diet that is high in lean protein and healthy fats, and low in sugar and processed carbs, can help maintain your metabolism and keep blood sugar steady. Leafy greens, nuts, seeds, berries, and beans are excellent choices that provide nutrients to support bone and heart health too. 

Focusing on a nutritious diet and lifestyle is key to supporting hormonal balance and weight management during and after menopause.

Get Enough Sleep and Reduce Stress to Support Healthy Weight Loss After Menopause

Getting adequate sleep and managing stress are critical to help your body’s systems function at their optimal levels. Sleep helps regulate the hormones that control hunger and appetite, including the stress hormone cortisol and the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin. During menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can disrupt sleep, making weight gain more likely. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep per night to allow leptin levels to increase and cortisol levels to decrease, which helps curb appetite and prevent overeating. To offset stress, try relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga to help reduce the stress hormones that increase cravings and fat storage. 

Exercise Regularly to Combat Weight Gain After Menopause

Exercise is critical for maintaining a healthy weight during and after menopause. As estrogen drops, the body holds onto fat and muscle mass decreases, slowing metabolism. Regular exercise helps boost metabolism, build muscle, and burn fat. Even light activity like walking, yoga, or gardening for 30 minutes a day five times a week can have significant benefits for postmenopausal women. 

Strength or resistance training is also important to maintain bone density and muscle mass. Staying active and exercising regularly can help menopausal women feel better, improve sleep and mood, and reduce health risks, all while combating the effects of shifting hormones on your weight. Making physical activity a daily habit is key to long term success.

Feel Your Best After Menopause with HerKare

Menopause should not stop you from achieving your health goals and feeling your best. You can still lose weight after menopause with the right combination of weight loss solutions, including HRT, diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. Our team of healthcare professionals is here to support you through the transitions around menopause. 

Learn more about how HRT might be beneficial for supporting healthy weight loss for women after menopause. Contact us to book an appointment today.