Weight Gain in Menopause

Weight gain during both perimenopause and menopause is a common symptom experienced by many women. Many women report it being a real struggle to manage their weight during menopause and this often has a negative impact upon a woman’s self-confidence and her self-esteem.

It’s common for women to report having tried unsuccessfully to lose weight through a variety of different diet regimes, exercise programsand lifestyle changes. But what if managing weight during midlife hormonal changes wasn’t just about willpower?

Understanding the changes

Our clinicians understand that there are several factors which can cause weight gain during menopause including hormonal and midlife age-related changes

These include:

Hormonal fluctuations which can reduce a woman’s metabolic rate.
Reducing oestrogen levels which can alter fat storage patterns andincrease abdominal fat.
Increased blood sugar levels due to reducing oestrogen levels which causean increase in hunger hormones and sugar cravings.

These changes are experienced alongside other symptoms such as sleep issues, fatigue, low mood, reduced motivation, backache, joint and muscle pains. Together, this combination often inhibits weight loss.

Individualised approach

Weight management during menopause involves more than calorie counting.

Menopause and Wellness have a dedicated team of specialist clinicians who can help you achieve a healthy weight. As weight gain is influenced by multiple factors during menopause, women benefit from being supported with weight loss treatment from a team of specialist clinicians who understand both menopause and weight loss treatment.

Our team of experienced nurse practioners, nurse prescribers, nutritionists, menopause personal trainer, and health improvement practioners are all here to provide you with expert support to help you achieve your own individual weight loss goal.

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How we can help with weight loss in Menopause

Weight Loss Medication

Explore if you would benefit from weight loss weight loss injection treatment such as Wegovy and Saxenda as part of a comprehensive treatment plan

Menopause Weight Management

Navigate hormonal changes and achieve healthy weight management during menopause with specialised care through individually tailored weight loss and lifestyle treatment programs.

Weight Loss Nutrition Services

Receive personalised and effective weight loss dietary plans and guidance from our registered weight loss nutritionist.

Menopause Aware Personal Training

Be supported with anindividualised personal training program aimed at supporting weight lossinclusive of resistance and strengths-based training to support muscle and bonechanges experienced during menopause.

PCOS Weight Loss

Address the unique metabolic challenges of polycystic ovarian syndrome and weight gain to facilitate sustainable weight loss

Overcoming Weight Loss Plateauss

Break through stubborn weight loss plateaus with expert strategies and personalised plan adjustments

Weight loss FAQs

For more information and advice get in touch today.

Can weight loss injections such as Wegovy and Saxenda help menopausal women to lose weight?

Yes, they can support successful weight loss and maintenance in women experiencing both perimenopause and menopause, when used as part of a comprehensive weight loss program that includes a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise.

How does Wegovy and Saxenda work??

Both Wegovy and Saxenda contain semaglutide, a medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. It works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and digestion. By stimulating insulin production and slowing gastric emptying, they help reduce hunger and calorie intake.

Think of it like a "fullness booster" that helps you eat less without constantly battling hunger. When combined with healthy eating and regular movement, it can help people lose weight more effectively than dieting alone.

Unlike traditional weight loss medications that act as stimulants or fat blockers, Wegovy and Saxenda directly targets appetite regulation in the brain. This results in a gradual, sustainable reduction in body weight for those who adhere to their prescribed dosage and lifestyle recommendations.

How does Wegovy and Saxenda promote weight loss?

Wegovy primarily influences the central nervous system by:
- Increasing feelings of fullness, reducing the urge to overeat
- Slowing digestion, leading to prolonged satiety
- Regulating blood sugar levels, which helps control hunger and sugar cravings and energy balance.
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By addressing hunger at its source, Wegovy and Saxenda supports long-term weight management without extreme dieting or unsustainable restrictions.

Who Is eligible to take Wegovy and Saxenda?

Wegovy in New Zealand is recommended for adults with:
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher (classified as obesity)
- A BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related health condition, such as Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, or Sleep Apnoea.

Before starting Wegovy or Saxenda, a healthcare professional will assess your medical history and overall health to determine if it’s a suitable option for you.

Who should NOT take Wegovy or Saxenda?

While Wegovy and Saxenda is effective for many individuals, it is not suitable for everyone. You should not take these medications if you:
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- Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
- Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Have a history of severe gastrointestinal disease or pancreatitis
- Are allergic to semaglutide or any other ingredients in Wegovy or Saxenda.

Always disclose your full medical history and any medications you are taking to your healthcare provider before starting Wegovy or Saxenda.

Where can I get Wegovy or Saxenda in New Zealand?

Right here -through our team at Menopause and Wellness.

Both Wegovy and Saxenda are non-funded, prescription only medications and as such can only be obtained through a licensed doctor or healthcare provider.

Our team of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Prescribers can support you with an individual assessment, via an online video consult, to see if Wegovy or Saxenda treatment is right for you.

If eligible we can support, you with a prescription for your Wegovy or Saxenda medication which will be sent directly to your chosen pharmacy. You will have ongoing support from our healthcare clinicians to support your weight loss.

Our team will support you with regular reviews to assess your weight loss progress, prescription renewals and ongoing support for as long as your being treated with Wegovy or Saxenda.

Keen to explore if Wegovy or Saxenda treatment could help you to lose weight?

It’s easy - Book in for a 20-minute Wegovy/Saxenda Treatment Initial Consultation with one of our prescribing clinicians today.

"I am unable to take HRT and was desperate when I found Monica and her team. Perimenopause has been a living hell for me and I nearly gave up my career because of it. I am so grateful for the help Cory has given me with menopause CBT. I am sleeping better, am no longer waking up every night drenched in night sweats and my anxiety is no longer spiralling out of control every 5 minutes. The help and support I have had has restored my faith. There is treatment that works for women who can’t take HRT. I can’t recommend Cory highly enough to anyone who needs help with perimenopause."

Leslie.

“Since working with Monica, my GP is treating me for perimenopause symptoms. I am now sleeping better, feeling happier with less mood swings and my hot flushes and night sweats have completely gone. My energy levels are better too and for the first time in a long time I feel able to exercise and start to make some changes that will support my long-term health. I am now looking forward to the future which is a very different place to where I was before”.

Linda, 47

“After four years of suffering symptoms a work colleague talked to me about the work Monica is doing to help women with menopause. I was scared of HRT so I sat on it for a couple of weeks and then took the plunge to see her. When I saw her I was feeling scared that things would never be the same again and that my life was on a downward spiral. Thank you for helping me Monica! She validated what I felt and explained why I was feeling like this. I felt like I finally had an ally who really got what was going on with me. With her help I am back to my old self enjoying life again”.

Lucy, 54

I booked in for an appointment with Monica and the information shared was actually life-changing in my understanding of what's been happening to me over the past few years. Before seeing her I had been given some antidepressant tablets which didn’t help. It was comforting for her to tell me that I wasn’t depressed (which I already knew) and that antidepressant medicine doesn’t work for problems women have with their mood when it’s due to menopause. She talked me through what choices I had for treatment and helped me to get the treatment I needed to feel better. I would never have been able to get this if I had not had her help.

Helen 49

“ Monica listened to me about the changes I had been having and then she spoke to me about how these were to do with menopause. I honestly hadn’t made the connection that what was happening to me. I thought I was just getting older and had to put up with it. She helped me realise that I didn’t need to put up with not sleeping and being anxious and tired all of the time. I was so irritable and felt angry at nothing a lot of the time. I also had sore joints and my skin was constantly itchy. She worked with me on a treatment plan and three months on I honestly feel like I have been given my life back”.

Toni, 53

FAQs

For more information and advice get in touch today..

Does menopause insomnia go away?

Often, poor sleep sticks around throughout perimenopause and after menopause.

What is the best medicine or vitamins for sleep during menopause?

Hormone Replacement Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Lifestyle treatments have all been proven effective for helping women sleep better through Menopause

Why do I wake up at 3am in perimenopause?

During perimenopause the body produces less and less estrogen and progesterone. These changes in hormones affect many systems and processes in the body, including several that impact sleep

What are the signs of low estrogen?

Because estrogen does so much in the body, imbalances can lead to a wide range of symptoms that can impact on your sleep. These can include issues like hot flushes, sweating at night, problems getting to and staying asleep, anxiety, depressed mood, joint pains, urinary urgency and headaches.

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