NutritionWeight lossWomen's health

5 ways to lose weight during menopause

Even though your body is changing, there are proven ways to maintain weight, lose weight, and prevent weight gain in the first place.

Jan, 2026
LearnMenopause weight loss5 ways to lose weight during menopause
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During menopause, it’s common for people to deal with a number of symptoms, from hot flashes to night sweats to weight gain. While a shift in body temperature can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, carrying extra pounds has been linked to numerous chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Lisa Ann Golik, MD, an OBGYN at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California, explains that natural aging and hormonal changes are often to blame. “A decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels can predispose a woman to gaining weight in the abdominal area,” she says. “Also with aging, there is a noted reduction in muscle mass and increase in fatty tissue mass.” That’s not all—your metabolism slows, and many people tend to be less active as they grow older, too.

With that in mind, here are effective strategies for preventing weight gain, maintaining your weight, and losing weight once you hit menopause.

Written byAmy Capetta.
Medically reviewed byAmy Gonzales, MD.November, 2024
Sources: WomensHealth.gov. Menopause and your health. September 21 + 16
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  11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight. Last reviewed June 16, 2022.
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  13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Losing Weight. Last reviewed September 19, 2022
  14. van Gemert WA, Peeters PH, et al. Effect of diet with or without exercise on abdominal fat in postmenopausal women – a  andomized trial. BMC Public Health. 2019. 19(174).
  15. 26th Annual Meeting of The North American Menopause Society September 30–October 3, 2015, Las Vegas, NV. Menopause. December 2015 - Volume 22 - Issue 12 - p 1361-1401.
  16. Bracamontes-Castelo G, Bacardí-Gascón M, Jiménez Cruz A. Effect of water consumption on weight loss: a systematic review. Nutr Hosp. 2019 Dec 26;36(6):1424-1429.
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