GLP-1s, Menopause, and the Weight Loss Dilemma: What Every Woman Needs to Know

The conversation around weight loss has taken a sharp turn with the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, these drugs are now being widely prescribed for weight loss, and a growing number of women in midlife are turning to them. Why shouldn't we?

More and more research is coming out about how the injections can help with the health and longevity of women, especially in combination with estrogen.

Is rapid weight loss via injections the best path forward, especially during a life stage that already comes with hormonal shifts, muscle loss, and fatigue?

At first glance, they seem like a miracle solution.

Let’s unpack what these drugs do, the benefits and drawbacks, and what more is needed around education, especially for midlife women navigating menopause.

What Are GLP-1 Medications?

GLP-1 stands for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, a hormone that plays a key role in regulating appetite and insulin. These medications mimic the hormone to:

• Suppress appetite

• Slow gastric emptying (you feel full longer)

• Reduce cravings

• Improve blood sugar control

  
  

In short, they help people eat less and feel fuller, often leading to significant weight loss. But the story doesn’t end there.

Who Are Turning to GLP-1s?

While there’s no global dataset breaking down GLP-1 usage by menopausal status, we know this:

• Women aged 40–59 have the highest rates of obesity among adult women in many countries, including the U.S. and across the GCC.

• Hormonal shifts during menopause lead to increased belly fat, insulin resistance, and slower metabolism, making weight loss harder than ever.

• Multiple menopause-specialist clinics and practitioners, like Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Stacy Sims, report that midlife women now make up a significant share of GLP-1 inquiries and prescriptions. Due to menopausal weight gain.

• A 2023 New York Times feature noted that many new users of GLP-1s were “women in their 40s and 50s who have struggled for decades with weight gain.”

  
  

This growing trend reveals a gap in support and science-backed solutions for women in midlife, which is exactly why we're discussing this at the GCC Menopause Summit 2025.

and our very own Health Coach, Sharon James, teams up with experts for an 8-week course, more on that soon.

The Appeal (and the Risk) for Menopausal Women

For women in perimenopause and menopause, weight gain can feel inevitable, even when eating well and exercising. So, it's no surprise that many feel relieved when GLP-1s finally move the needle on the scale.

But here's the crucial question: What’s happening to the rest of your body while the kilos drop?

The Downside: Muscle Loss and Low Energy

Weight loss from GLP-1s isn’t always fat loss. Several studies and experts, including Dr. Stacy Sims, point to a troubling pattern:

“When you lose weight quickly through appetite suppression, you’re not feeding your body or your muscles. This accelerates lean muscle loss, especially in already estrogen-deficient women.” – Dr. Stacy Sims

Muscle is our metabolic gold, it supports:

• Bone density

• Joint stability

• Fat burning

• Functional strength

• Mood and mental clarity

  
  

Losing it accelerates aging. Combine that with the fatigue and nausea many users experience on GLP-1s, and you’ve got a recipe for less movement, lower motivation, and an even faster decline in metabolic health.

What No One Tells You: Coming Off the Injections

The other elephant in the room?

Very few people are educated on how to transition off GLP-1s. There’s no “exit plan” built into the prescription. And without one, up to 70% of people regain the weight they lost, sometimes more. Your GP advises you to eat smaller portions, exercise and all the good stuff you need to hear- But who actually keeps you accountable? Once the food noise starts to come back, you can pick up right where you left off.

For menopausal women, that rebound is brutal. The body’s already working against you, and yo-yo dieting just adds more stress to an already inflamed system.

The missing link? Education and lifestyle support. Things like:

• Resistance training to preserve muscle

• Anti-inflammatory, high-protein nutrition

• Hormonal support strategies

• Gut health

• Behaviour changes and mindset work

  
  

Why This Matters Now

Women deserve education, empowerment, and evidence-based strategies tailored to their biology.

We are covering this in depth at the GCC Menopause Summit 2025, because women deserve more than quick fixes.

We are also launching the very first ONLINE COURSE in September to help women maintain their weight and live life healthier beyond GLP-1s

Join us for an 8-Week Lifestyle Management Reset for GLP-1S and beyond.

If you are taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro and wondering what’s next?

Do you feel like you're losing weight but also losing control of your energy, habits, or strength? You’re not alone.

GLP-1 medications can help reduce your appetite, but they don’t teach you how to nourish your body, build strength, or protect your metabolism, especially during perimenopause or menopause.

This groundbreaking 8-week online coaching program is designed specifically for midlife women on weight loss injections who want to:

• Learn how to maintain the weight loss

• Master mindset around weight fluctuations

• Learn how to break free from fear and anxiety around the scale.

• Understand how hormones, muscle mass, and metabolism affect weight and how to stay focused on health, not just numbers

• Learn how to maintain or regain lean muscle through training

• Learn what’s happening to their body in menopause and the use of injections

• Learn what your nutrition plan should be

• + You will learn so much more

  
  

We’re bringing together experts to talk honestly about:

• The physiological realities of menopause and GLP-1s

• How to use GLP-1s responsibly (if at all)

• Strategies for sustainable fat loss and muscle preservation (and gain)

• How to thrive in midlife, not just survive

• Life after GLP-1s

  
  

The Bottom Line (that's another thing, you will lose your bottom!)

GLP-1s are an incredible tool, not a solution. They may help take the weight off, but without a comprehensive menopause-aware strategy, they can leave you worse off: fatigued, frail, and frustrated.

Menopause is not a one-size-fits-all journey. If you’re considering weight loss injections or are already on them, make sure you have a plan that supports your whole body, not just the number on the scale.

And most importantly, don’t go it alone. The real transformation happens when you combine science, community, and empowered choice.

If you would like more details on the course,- email sharon@thegccmenopausehub.com

Registration will open soon.