Weight Management in Menopause: Diet, Physical Activity, Medication, and Surgery

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Metabolic Health
• Cardiovascular Risk Management

Background:

• Women undergo significant body composition and metabolic changes during the menopausal transition.
• These changes include increased central adiposity, decreased lean mass, and worsened cardiometabolic risk factors.
• Factors contributing to these changes include hormonal shifts and aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of menopause on body composition and cardiometabolic health.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in mitigating these changes.
• To explore the potential of pharmacological interventions, including novel agents, for managing menopausal-related health risks.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on menopause, body composition, and cardiometabolic risk.
• Analysis of data from clinical trials on diet and exercise interventions.
• Examination of evidence for antiobesity medications and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists.

Main Results:

• Menopause is associated with increased body fat (especially central) and loss of lean mass.
• Cardiometabolic risk factors like insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and impaired vascular function worsen.
• Diet and exercise interventions during the menopausal transition improve weight, body composition, and metabolic health.

Conclusions:

• Lifestyle interventions are effective in managing menopausal-related body composition and metabolic changes.
• Emerging pharmacological options, particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, show promise.
• Further research is needed on bariatric surgery and older antiobesity medications in this population.