Menopause weight gain and belly fat
Weight gain in perimenopause and menopause is common, often at the waist. Menopause and HRT have not been shown to be the main cause of the extra pounds.
All guides
Every guide we have published, newest first. Each one opens with the short answer.
Newest first
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
Bioidentical means the hormone molecule matches one the body makes. NHS body-identical HRT is a regulated medicine. Compounded mixes are not shown to be safer.
Does HRT cause weight gain? What the trials show
HRT does not cause weight gain, according to a Cochrane review of 28 trials. Early bloating and fluid retention can feel like weight gain, and both usually settle.
HRT risks in plain numbers: extra cases per 1,000
Extra cases of breast cancer, blood clots and stroke per 1,000 women on hormone replacement therapy, by type, route and how long it is used.
Menopause symptom checklist for your GP
A printable list of perimenopause and menopause symptoms, with how often each occurs and how much it bothers you, for a GP visit about hormone therapy.
Browse by topic
Each topic page has a plain overview, the questions readers ask most, and every guide on that subject.
- PerimenopausePerimenopause symptoms and the first signs, how long the stage lasts, and hormone replacement therapy while periods continue.
- SymptomsBrain fog, anxiety, aches and other changes, and what each symptom usually means.
- Hormone therapy (HRT)What HRT is, the forms it comes in, who it suits and how the risks really stack up.
- Hot flashesWhy the heat comes on, and which treatments have trial evidence, with and without hormones.
- SleepWhy sleep breaks down in perimenopause and menopause, from sweating at night to 3am waking, and what helps you stay asleep.
- Weight and dietWhy weight changes in midlife, and how to eat for energy, bone strength and heart health.
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