To think my HRT patches have led to weight gain?

PPS A menopause specialist told me HRT doesn't cause weight gain.

PS try high dose Starflower Oil for your boobs.

It's the menopause that causes weight gain.

Even on HRT you have only a fraction of the oestrogen you had before perimenopause. Fat cells contain oestrogen- your body is craving oestrogen so finds a way to create it. Thst is also why it's hard to lose the fat.

I put on 3 stone in perimenopause ( not on HRT) despite exercising and eating the same as before.

According to my fit bit I burn 1600 calories per day even if I do 10000 steps. So anything over 1600 calories I put on weight. 1600 calories used to be the number I had to eat to lose 2lbs a week, now that is what I need to eat to stay the same.

It's depressing. I hate the fucking menopause.

I haven't gained weight (
Been on hrt 10 years) but my weight distribution has definitely changed and I have much more abdominal fat than I used to.
If your breasts are sore that suggests your estrogen dose is too high. Estrogen also causes water retention so it could be that rather than body fat.
I'm now lifting weights and calorie counting and to try to shift the abdominal gain. It's working but it's very slow progress.

I think this must vary quite a lot on the person. I am not in any way saying this to be smug (I have plenty of other problems/challenges!!) but I am on HRT (and in fact also citalopram) and have not experienced weight gain. I guess I'm posting this just in case someone needs both/either and is concerned - I really sympathise when this is an issue, it just hasn't been for me.

I absolutely packed weight on, have gradually tapered down to around half the dose and have now started to lose weight. I don’t care how anecdotal the evidence is, it’s the hill I choose to die on!

I saw a GP last week to discuss stress/anxiety/peri symptoms, and whether to increase my HRT. I’ve struggled with my weight since childhood and never been slim but the weight distribution has changed for sure. My abdomen and upper hip area is massive and wobbly. GP says HRT causes weight gain so cautioned me on increasing the dose as this is causing me distress.

Back to Slimming World next week, I need the accountability of weekly weigh in.

Hrt makes you hungrier and makes you retain water. I lost weight while on hrt (was in the middle of weight loss when I started). Over 2 stones. I just count calories. I was hungrier for the first two weeks but eating more protein helped. A couple of boiled eggs on toast for lunch

It absolutely, 100% makes me put on at least a stone. I know this because I have had to stop and start it several times over the years I’ve been on it due to testing for another condition where it affects the blood test results (cortisol - Addisons disease) and every single time I stop it l literally lose around a stone and then it goes back on again when I restart it. Every single time. Not changing anything else diet or exercise wise. I have now had to completely come off it for medical reasons relating to my autoimmune issues and I’m down a stone now already and still losing - which to be fair I need to do, I’m 14 stone 8 at 5ft 7. A lot of the narrative out there suggests HRT doesn’t cause weight gain etc but for many women like me it absolutely does.

You are not the first person to have this side effect in the slightest. GPs always say no evidence same with SSRIs.

It’s bull and many people gain weight on them

You can try weights, eating clean and fresh air. These WILL help with symptoms

My mum absolutely piled weight on at 40 when she had a full hysterectomy and started HRT. Like you, she has been told it is nothing to do with the HRT, but she begs to differ. She hasn't been able to shift the weight in the intervening 25 years, and paid to have breast reduction surgery several years back as they grew so much and were causing her sleep loss and extreme back pain (not enough though for it to be available on the NHS - it was cosmetic according to them ...) So sorry you are going through this.

53 still have periods. Have put on weight too… but I haven’t been as active recently. I do think appetite has increased. Not sure what do do, if anything.