Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is widely used to help manage symptoms of menopause, but many women wonder: does being on HRT make it harder to lose weight? With hormones playing a significant role in body weight and fat distribution, this is a valid concern. In this article, we’ll explore what HRT does to your body and how it affects weight.
What exactly is HRT?
“Firstly, it’s probably helpful to define menopause – this is when a woman goes 12 months without a menstrual period. The average age for this in Australia is about 51. In the years leading up to this, oestrogen and progesterone levels tend to fluctuate before they drop,” Dr Kirsty Wallace-Hor, a Specialist GP at Juniper, explains.
“Some women experience symptoms related to these fluctuations in the lead-up to menopause, as well as the symptoms of low oestrogen that can occur after menopause. These symptoms include mood changes, hot flushes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, sleep issues, breast pain and hair loss,” she adds.
This is where HRT (now known as menopausal hormone therapy or MHT) comes in: “MHT is used to treat low oestrogen after menopause. It can also help regulate hormones and reduce symptoms in the lead-up to menopause. It does this by providing a steady dose of oestrogen, which is often used together with progesterone.”
Is it harder to lose weight on MHT?
“The short answer is that there is pretty compelling evidence that MHT does not affect body weight or body mass index,” Dr Wallace-Hor clarifies. In fact, some studies suggest that MHT can have a positive effect on body fat distribution!
“Because it helps regulate hormones, MHT may actually help with the redistribution of weight that increases abdominal fat. The improvements in mood, sleep and quality of life some women get with MHT can also help their chances of eating a healthy diet and remaining physically active, with obvious benefits for health and weight.”
It is true that many women struggle with weight gain as they get older – it’s just that MHT isn’t to blame.
“Between the ages of 45 and 55, women gain on average around 500g per year. This is largely due to loss of muscle mass (which starts in our 30s) and the effect this has on our metabolism. It takes more energy to maintain muscle than fat, so when we lose muscle mass, our metabolism slows.
“This isn’t due to hormonal changes, more to do with aging itself, and it’s why strength training is so important. Hormones have more of an impact on how fat is distributed in our body – which is why fat often accumulates in the abdomen as we age.”
Losing weight as you get older
Shifting weight might be trickier as you age, but it’s certainly not impossible. A few tips to keep in mind include:
- Eat a healthy diet, rich in fruit and veg
- Prioritise protein (it will help you maintain muscle mass)
- Stay active (strength training is a great option Dr Wallace-Hor mentioned, but if lifting weights isn’t for you, there are many alternatives, like swimming, yoga, and pilates)
- Prioritise self-care and keep your stress levels low
- Walk every day – even a 15-minute walk every morning can make a difference
- Don’t forget to drink plenty of water
“Understanding how our bodies change with age is important because it highlights the importance of eating healthily, maintaining physical activity, and drinking less alcohol as we get older. Even if you don’t have concerns about menopausal symptoms, menopause is still a good opportunity to check in with your GP about how you can optimise your health.”
