Will HRT help with menopause-related weight gain around my middle?

[Mimicking]

Firstly, thank goodness I found you!

There is probably a multitude of this question, but I cannot be bothered to troll through all the threads (far too tired for that!)

Weight. Will taking HRT help reduce my middle? I have been prescribed the gel stuff and some tablets - no idea of the names. I haven't started using it yet.

Over the last year I have been eating less, drinking less but also moving less due to a change in job. The weight seems to be staying regardless of the reduced eating and drinking. It wasn't a strategic move, my appetite just became smaller and I don't enjoy alcohol like I used to.

Will I see an improvement with the weight gain when I start HRT?

Reasons for the prescription: (Age 43) Severe anxiety, paranoia and heart palpitations. Cycle as regular as clockwork but has reduced to 21 days over the last couple of years. I was flooding every month but my last two periods have been surprisingly lighter. Sudden bouts of rage that came out of nowhere. Oh and brain fog! Seriously can't remember words or string a sentence together most of the time. The other day I was in the car and I couldn't for the life of me remember where a certain shop was located!

The only reason I haven't started taking the medication is because I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of tablets I was taking. I was prescribed an antidepressant for the anxiety (which has helped no end) My iron levels were low - prescribed iron tablets. On top of that I take meds for an autoimmune disease.

I must admit it hasn't for me and nor did it for my mum, my sister or any of my friends that I've noticed or spoken to about 'middle age spread'.

Ot will help with everything but the weight. You will feel better.

It hasn’t for me! I’m the same, the middle aged spread is real here.

Helped with lots but not the spare tyre unfortunately

Oh well, sounds unanimous!

I was hoping dropping a jean size or two would be an added bonus for getting my brain back. 😂

The brain fog is a very real and very scary symptom. I honestly thought I was suffering from early-onset dementia!

@Mimickingwhich antidepressant has helped with the anxiety?
in terms of weight in middle - I know this isn’t much help but I’ve had to completely change my diet. I also drink
kefir milk which seems to have helped with bloating.

Made mine worse.

If you don’t mind me asking, how have you changed your diet? I’m struggling with this too.

I’m sad to say it made mine worse.

And mine...I look like I have a small mattress rolled round my middle

I’m same age similar symptoms. My brain fog is real but maybe less severe, but also struggling with body aches. But weight gain is one of the reasons I haven’t wanted to try HRT yet: everyone I know who has been on it gained more after, and I definitely put on a bit when I had my Mirena coil fitted. I’m only 5ft and even a 5lb gain is a new dress size for me.

No. Hrt cured hot flushes and sleep disruption which were my worst symptoms so very grateful for that.

No effect on brain fog or weight sadly.

Not unanimous at all. You’ve got to understand what menopausal weight gain is all about. When we have functioning hormones, we have a female fat distribution and when those drop during perimenopause our fat distribution changes and it becomes more like a male fat pattern which is less around the bottom and thighs and more around our midsection.

We also rapidly lose muscle mess from about the age of 40. Muscle is metabolic active and requires a lot more energy to maintain So when we lose muscle mass, we gain more body fat, even if our lifestyle hasn’t changed

So women often find they’re just eating less and less food but still getting bigger and bigger and it sits more around the midsection

What can help is replacing those hormones and regular weight-bearing exercise. And when I say weight-bearing exercise, I mean heavy weights. Weights heavy enough that you are replacing the lost muscle. This is not fiddling about with weights this is proper structured heavy weight strength training

What some women find when they start HRT is there lots of the symptoms like brain fog and anxiety are reduced and there Can be some benefit to weight gain, but sometimes no significant change Too flat distribution. One issue is that traditional HRT only replaces oestrogen and progesterone. Women produce 10 times more testosterone than we do oestrogen But traditionally, this was ignored.

Now there is much more evidence that women benefit from hormone replacement that includes testosterone and this is a game changer. It both works to help preserve muscle mass which keeps you metabolically more active. it’s the third hormone and it helps you maintain your weight

Throughout my 40s, I went from a size 6-8 To a size 14. I’m short and small I was really fat. I started weight training and took additional HRT and it helped a little but I still had a big menopausal belly. I introduced testosterone. I increased the intensity of my weight training and I’m now back to a 6 to 8. I look better than I did in my 30s the only difference is my skin isn’t this taught but that’s just aging and childbirth.

@bumptybum - great post! I had heard about some women taking testosterone and a friend recently described it as game changing for her too, but in terms of helping with brain fog. I have to admit that I had no idea that women produced the level of testosterone you describe. Have you had prescribed via your GP or privately?

All this is true, but I lost half a stone- mostly round my middle- after stopping HRT. And went down a whole bust size. Diet and exercise same.

Having said that, HRT was great for my brain fog, hot flushes and mood, and I encourage everyone to try it. I was on it for 2 years.

Hi 👋 and welcome and also well done for reaching out because this is such a common and frustrating experience in menopause.

Many women notice weight changing around the middle during this time, even when they are eating less or drinking less like you describe. Hormonal changes (especially lower oestrogen), changes in muscle mass, stress levels, sleep quality and activity patterns can all play a role in how the body stores fat.

HRT can help some women indirectly, but it is not considered a weight-loss treatment. For example, if HRT improves symptoms like poor sleep, night sweats, low mood or joint pain, you may feel more able to move, exercise and regulate appetite and energy and that can make weight management feel easier. Some women also notice less central fat redistribution, but results really vary from person to person.

You also mentioned moving less due to a job change that alone can have a significant effect on metabolism and body composition, even if food intake is lower. Sometimes the body becomes more efficient and holds on to energy.

It may also help to gently look at daily habits such as:
• keeping regular movement (even short walks count)
• supporting sleep and stress levels
• staying well hydrated many women notice thirst signals change in menopause and drinking enough water can help energy, appetite regulation and overall wellbeing
• including enough protein and some strength-based activity during the week
• giving HRT time to settle if you decide to start

If you are unsure about the type or dose, it is always worth checking back with your GP or menopause specialist so you feel confident before starting. I hope this helps

You are definitely not alone in this many women go through exactly what you are describing 💕

It made my boobs grow bigger, which I really didn’t need. They have their own postcode now. Otherwise everything stayed pretty much the same.

God, mine too. I went from a B cup to an E cup. Hated it. Now I have shrunk back to a C cup.

@Mimicking You may find that when you are using HRT you can stop the anti Ds.

Too many women are still being prescribed these for peri meno anxiety despite the guidance from NICE saying not to - back in 2015. HRT is the treatment, according to NICE. Many people find they gain weight on ADs as they are known to increase appetite.

Your weight should reduce if you increase your exercise - you've said it's dropped back and although you're eating less, it may still be 'too much' or the wrong kinds of food.

This is a helpful link zoe.com/learn/perimenopause-weight-gain

Not in my case. HRT increased my tummy fat.

fascinating stuff about the Teststerone @bumptybum. Hopefully women’s health will eventually be taken more seriously and we will automatically be able to access this in the future. Do you get your testosterone privately?
I did not put any weight on with HRT but didn’t lose any either so was lucky however I do exercise a lot and am a natural stressy/fidgety person so that probably helps
Unfortunately the brain fog is still here but other symptoms like sleep quality, mood issues definitely improved so recommend trying HRT for anyone on the fence

Sometimes when you start feeling better it naturally just makes u feel more motivated so then u increase your activity ect ect and the weight will shift ,!
I have been on hrt since 44 and I did lose weight then gained and then switched to continuous hrt even thou I still have bleeds because it has helped with hormonal acne my weight has gone down again I feel much more active and motivated to do stuff I hardly sit still lol 😁 x

I didn’t put on weight with HRT but I do find it harder to keep slim as I get older. I don’t think it’s HRT that’s the issue-it’s just where we store fat as our hormones change. It’s not easy-I am a size 8 but as the years go on I need to eat less and less whereas I could eat wheat ever I wanted when I was younger and it made no difference. I eat lots of protein and I lift weights (heavy, 3 or 4 times weekly). I use testosterone too which helps.

I have recently heard some anecdotal reports that women using testosterone replacement therapy had good results with body re-composition.

It didn’t help for me, but I gave up alcohol, and I’ve adopted a diet that’s pretty much vegan these days, and that’s made a massive difference. I appreciate that’s definitely not the route for everyone! But I was surprised it made such a big difference when nothing else had.