Key Takeaways:
- Many middle-aged and older adults struggle with weight gain that does not respond to diet or exercise.
- Hormonal changes and imbalances can impact metabolism and other physiological processes, potentially hindering one’s ability to lose or manage their weight.
- Along with alleviating menopausal symptoms and other concerns in women and men with hormonal imbalances, hormone replacement therapy can help make it easier to lose weight.
- When paired with other weight loss programs and therapies, hormone replacement therapy is especially effective at helping patients reach their weight loss goals.
- Dr. B’s Naples-based practice in Southwest Florida specializes in using hormone replacement therapy with other treatments to help people lose weight.
When adults reach middle age, many struggle with weight gain that does not respond to diet or exercise. Such weight gains can be spurred by a mix of physiological, lifestyle, and environmental factors, including:
- Menopause
- Andropause
- Thyroid issues
- Metabolic slowdown
- Reduced physical activity
- Poor diet choices
- Sleep disruptions
- Age-related muscle loss
- Stress
- Medication side-effects
Undergirding some of these weight-gain factors, such as menopause, andropause, thyroid issues, and metabolic slowdown, are hormonal changes. And this begs the question: Can hormone replacement therapy (HRT) help with weight loss?
Naples, Florida, internal medicine specialist Dr. Diane Brzezinski, D.O., says the short answer is “yes.” She, her partner physician, Dr. Michael Hellman, D.O., and Kelly Fennemore ARNP, offer hormone replacement therapy to help alleviate numerous symptoms that can arise when their patients’ hormone levels become unbalanced, whether due to age or other reasons. While Dr. B’s practice does not use HRT specifically as a stand-alone weight loss treatment, patients undergoing the therapy frequently find that it makes it much easier to manage their weight.
Thus, if hormonal imbalances are causing other problems, they may also be inhibiting your ability to lose or manage your weight. HRT, combined with other lifestyle changes and other therapies, is another valuable tool to use in your efforts to lose weight that is resistant to diet and exercise. Let’s examine the connection between hormones and mid-life weight gains, types of HRT, and what patients can realistically expect while undergoing the therapy.
The Link Between Hormones and Weight
Hormones play a significant role in influencing a person’s weight because they regulate metabolism, appetite, fat storage, and energy levels. Hormonal imbalances, regardless of their cause and degree, can disrupt their influence and make weight management more challenging. Common imbalances that contribute to weight gain include:
- Estrogen declines (especially during menopause)—reduces calorie-burning muscle mass and increases fat storage, particularly in the abdomen.
- Testosterone—low testosterone reduces metabolism and muscle mass, which otherwise inhibits fat gain, though the effect is more pronounced in men than women.
- Thyroid dysfunction—slows metabolism, causing a reduction in caloric burning and subsequent weight gain.
How Hormone Replacement Therapy Works
Hormone replacement therapy, as offered to patients in the Naples area by Dr. B’s practice, delivers hormones into the body to restore healthy levels that are compromised by aging, medical conditions, stress, specific medications, and other factors. Dr. B relies on hormone pellet therapy to treat her patients, which involves the insertion of a pellet containing all-natural bioidentical hormones under the skin. The rice-sized pellet works daily to release a consistent dose of hormones into the patient’s bloodstream to maintain proper levels.
The therapy helps alleviate numerous symptoms associated with low hormone levels, including:
- All menopausal symptoms in women
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Muscle loss
- Low libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Insomnia
- Dry skin and thinning hair
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability, anxiety, and depression
- Headaches
- Bone loss
- And more
As weight gain or inability to lose weight through diet and exercise may be connected in part to hormone imbalances, HRT can also help patients lose or better manage their weight. This HRT “side effect” is related to its health benefits of boosting metabolism, increasing energy levels, lowering stress, and reducing the body’s fat storage inclination.
Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Alone Cause Weight Loss?
Dr. B and Dr. Hellmann are quick to clarify that HRT is not a magic weight loss treatment, nor do they use it as a stand-alone treatment for weight loss. Inevitably, many older patients struggling with weight are also experiencing hormone imbalances and some of the symptoms that go with it. When weight loss is included as one of a patient’s desired outcomes in their HRT, Dr. B’s practice typically adds other weight loss initiatives to their overall treatment. In fact, HRT’s role in helping people lose or manage weight is especially effective when combined with other therapies and programs offered by the practice, including:
Who Might Benefit Most from HRT?
Any adult experiencing weight gain or having trouble controlling their weight while also suffering from symptoms related to hormone imbalance may benefit from HRT. In particular, women in perimenopause or menopause and men with andropause (low testosterone) are good candidates for HRT.
To determine if you are a good candidate for HRT for weight loss, it’s essential to consult with a physician experienced with treating hormone imbalances, like those at Dr. B’s practice. When you consult with Dr. B about weight management and its possible link to hormonal imbalance, she will conduct lab testing of your hormonal levels to ensure that the therapy is right for you.
What to Expect from HRT for Weight Management
If you undergo weight loss or weight management with HRT, your results will typically emerge gradually as the improved hormone balance begins to take effect. In fact, many patients notice alleviation of hormone imbalance symptoms before seeing any significant weight loss. That said, patients can increase the success and speed of their HRT weight loss goals by pairing the therapy with Dr. B’s medical weight loss program and other weight loss treatments, such as peptide therapy.
With a focus on holistic health care, Dr. B says a patient’s goals with HRT and any other weight loss-related programs should focus on “sustainable, long-term health, and not just the number on the scale.”
Consult with Dr. B’s Clinic to See if HRT is Right for You
Hormone replacement therapy can play a significant role in weight management by addressing underlying imbalances. As such, older adults struggling to lose or manage their weight with diet and exercise should have their hormone levels tested to see if HRT might be a weight-loss management option. To learn more about HRT in Naples, schedule your appointment at Dr. B’s clinic by calling (239) 261-9990.
FAQs: Hormone Replacement Therapy and Weight Loss
Q: Can hormone replacement therapy alone make me lose weight?
A: Not usually. Hormone replacement therapy helps balance hormones that influence metabolism, but lasting weight loss requires a comprehensive plan that combines hormone replacement therapy with nutrition and regular physical activity.
Q: How quickly will I notice weight changes with hormone replacement therapy?
A: Many patients report improved energy and reduced fat gain within 1–3 months, but visible weight loss varies per individual.
Q: Is hormone replacement therapy safe for weight management?
A: Yes, when prescribed and monitored by a qualified physician. Safety depends on individual health history and regular follow-ups.
Q: Does testosterone therapy help women with weight loss?
A: In some cases, yes. Optimized testosterone levels can support lean muscle mass and fat reduction, but dosage must be carefully managed.
Q: Can hormone replacement therapy prevent menopausal weight gain?
A: Hormone replacement therapy may help reduce or slow down weight gain associated with menopause by addressing estrogen decline, which impacts fat storage.
