Feel Like You Again: Menopause, Weight Changes & Whole‑Body Support

24 July

Wellness & Weight Management consultations for women in Elwood and bayside area

Many of the women I see are moving through perimenopause or menopause and telling me the same thing: “My body just isn’t the same… I don’t recognise myself.” Clothes fit differently. Weight shows up around the middle. Skin feels drier, thinner, or less firm. Energy dips. Sleep shifts.

It can feel like your body is changing faster than you can keep up.

You’re not alone and you’re not “failing.” These changes are real, they’re rooted in physiology, and with the right support you can feel more like yourself again.

This guide explains why weight and body composition change during menopause, what the science says, and how a personalised Wellness & Weight Management Consultations can help you take confident, sustainable steps forward.

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Quickly: What Is Menopause?

Menopause marks 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period and typically occurs between ages 45–55 (the average in Australia is early 50s). The transition leading up to it, perimenopause, is when most of the hormonal fluctuations occur, and many women begin to notice changes in weight distribution, mood, cycle length, sleep, and skin quality. Declining oestrogen is a key driver behind many of these shifts (Toth et al., 2000; Lovejoy, 2010).

Why Weight Changes Around Menopause

Weight gain during midlife is common but how and where weight is gained often shifts. Science points to several overlapping factors:

1. Hormonal Changes & Fat Redistribution

Falling oestrogen levels are associated with a shift from hip/thigh fat storage toward more abdominal and visceral fat. Central fat gain is also more metabolically active and linked to increased cardiometabolic risk, so understanding it matters for long‑term health (Toth et al., 2000; Lovejoy, 2010).

2. Slower Metabolism with Age

As we age, we naturally lose lean muscle mass, and resting metabolic rate declines. If eating patterns stay the same while energy expenditure drops, gradual weight gain is common. Menopause may amplify this effect through hormonal influence on body composition and energy use (Greising et al., 2015).

3. Reduced Everyday Movement

Research suggests that part of midlife weight gain relates not only to hormones but also to reduced spontaneous activity, the incidental movement we do without thinking (standing, fidgeting, walking). When life gets busier or energy dips, this “incidental burn” can fall sharply (Lovejoy, 2010).

4. Lean Mass Loss & Functional Strength

Declines in oestrogen are linked to loss of lean body mass and changes in muscle quality. Less muscle means fewer calories burned at rest and reduced functional strength, which may further discourage activity, a cycle we want to interrupt early (Greising et al., 2015).

5. Sleep, Mood & Symptom Load

Hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes, and disrupted sleep can lead to increased snacking, lower motivation to exercise, and altered appetite hormones indirect pathways to weight gain (Lovejoy, 2010).

Why You May "Not Feel Like Yourself"

Physical change isn’t just about numbers. Many women describe a sense of disconnect from their bodies in midlife.

Common themes I hear in clinic:

“My usual diet and exercise aren’t working anymore.”
“I’ve always gained weight in my hips, now it’s my belly.”
“My skin and body changed at the same time.”
“I feel puffy, tired, and not myself.”

Understanding the underlying biology helps shift the conversation from frustration to strategy. When you know why things changed, it’s easier to make targeted, realistic adjustments that work with your evolving physiology, not against it.

What Happens in a Wellness & Weight Management Consultation?

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If you're feeling like your body has changed and nothing you used to do is working, a structured consultation with our registered nurse and medical team can help you reset with clarity and support.

This 60-minute appointment includes:

A comprehensive health and lifestyle assessment
Personalised exploration of your symptoms, goals, and how your body has changed
A customised plan tailored to support your weight, energy, skin, and overall wellbeing
A prescription, if clinically appropriate, from an independent prescribing doctor (via secure telehealth)
Recommendations that may include nutritional support, lifestyle changes, skincare, and targeted supplementation

This is the first step of a coordinated and supportive program. The minimum 3-month commitment includes nurse-led coaching, skin and symptom support, regular check-ins, and ongoing medical oversight so you feel empowered and cared for at every stage.

Why Include Skin Care in a Weight & Wellness Conversation?

Because many women experience skin thinning, dryness, and textural change alongside body composition shifts. In‑clinic treatments such as chemical peels tailored for barrier support, brightening, or gentle exfoliation can help restore comfort and confidence as your skin adapts to hormonal change. When you feel better in your skin, sticking to lifestyle changes feels easier too (Greising et al., 2015).