Menopause can bring many changes, and for many women, weight gain is one of them. If you’ve noticed the number on the scale creeping up despite your efforts, just know that it’s common and fairly normal – but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it.
Dr. Corey Howard, a board-certified specialist in internal and functional medicine at Howard Health & Wellness in Naples, Florida, understands how frustrating this can be. That’s why he offers hormone replacement therapy as a potential solution.
Why Does Menopause Cause Weight Gain?
Hormonal shifts during menopause, especially the drop in estrogen, can affect your metabolism and make you hold on to more body fat, especially in the abdomen. These changes can also affect insulin sensitivity and how your body processes calories.
On top of that, aging, decreasing muscle mass, stress, and lack of sleep can make it even harder to manage your weight. All of this isn’t to say that weight gain is inevitable – it just means your body may need a new approach.
How to Stop Gaining Weight During Menopause
While weight management during menopause can feel challenging, a few adjustments may help:
- Eat for Balance: Focus on meals rich in lean proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains. These foods support metabolism and keep you full longer.
- Stay Active: Strength training and regular exercise can help maintain muscle mass and improve energy levels.
- Prioritize Sleep and Manage Stress: Both are key for hormone balance and overall health.
- Consider Personalized Hormone Therapy: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can make it easier to manage some of the weight changes that come with menopause by balancing your hormones.
How Howard Health & Wellness Can Help
Dr. Howard will thoroughly evaluate you to determine if hormone therapy could benefit you. He will check your hormone levels through blood, saliva, or urine tests, along with a complete medical history and physical exam.
Your personal plan may include:
- Topical creams that you apply to your skin.
- Capsules, which are usually for progesterone.
- Pellet therapy for consistent hormone levels.
After starting treatment, many patients feel more energized and notice improvements in mood within a few weeks. This should make it easier to stay active and eat well but also help reduce menopause symptoms and potentially support weight management.
Regular follow-ups (about every three months) will help keep your plan on track.
Partner with Howard Health & Wellness
Weight gain during menopause is common, but you don’t have to face it alone. Call Howard Health & Wellness at 239-331-2285 to book your consultation and start feeling more like yourself.
