Weight Gain
Do you recognize this?
You're not eating any differently than before, maybe even exercising more, and yet the weight keeps creeping up, especially around your belly. Clothes that always fit now feel tighter. Weight gain during menopause is one of the most common and most frustrating symptoms, precisely because the usual approach of eating less and moving more often produces little result.
Many women recognize:
- Increasing belly fat, even without a clear change in lifestyle
- A feeling that your metabolism has slowed down
- Trouble losing weight despite diet and exercise
- Fatigue and energy swings that make exercising even harder
This pattern is stubborn, but not unsolvable: there's often an identifiable hormonal cause behind it.
Why does this happen?
The decline in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA disrupts your metabolism on multiple fronts at once. Estrogen loss shifts fat storage from the hips and thighs to the belly and around the organs: so-called visceral fat. This fat is metabolically active, produces inflammatory substances, and increases the risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA also play a crucial role in maintaining muscle and bone mass. When these decline, you lose muscle mass and your resting metabolism slows further. Insulin sensitivity and fluid balance are also strongly affected.
That explains why weight gain during menopause is stubborn and often responds poorly to the usual approaches like stricter dieting and more exercise. Weight gain can range from 2 up to 20 kilograms.
What can you do yourself?
These adjustments can help, although lifestyle alone doesn't fully resolve the hormonal cause:
- Enough protein, 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day, is essential for maintaining muscle.
- Strength training, once or twice a week. This slows muscle loss and supports your metabolism better than cardio alone.
- Watch your blood sugar: regular, protein-rich meals prevent the spikes and dips that promote fat storage.
- Prioritize sleep. Sleep deprivation disrupts cortisol and insulin sensitivity, which further encourages weight gain.
How Menovia addresses this
At Menovia, we always look at the full hormonal picture for weight gain, not just sex hormones. During the intake, a BIG-registered doctor discusses your symptoms and lifestyle. Through blood testing we map out your hormone levels, and depending on your package, also your thyroid function and sugar profile, both of which have a major influence on weight.
Based on that, the doctor draws up a personal treatment plan, often combining bio-identical hormones with targeted lifestyle advice. When lifestyle and hormone supplementation don't provide enough improvement, additional options are available under strict medical supervision, such as GLP-1 medication.
You can get started quickly: no waiting list, and the 10-minute introductory call is free.
This is what the treatment process looks like
Online Screening
Leave your details and schedule an intake. Through a digital questionnaire, we'll check whether you're eligible for a free introductory call (10 min) or intake (45 min). When scheduling, you pay a deposit of €150, which is deducted from the intake costs of your package.
Intake
You will discuss our program with one of our specialized doctors and decide whether to participate.
Blood & DNA research
You will receive the tests at home for a smooth process. Blood tests are done at a location near you.
Personal Treatment Plan
Based on your research results, the doctor will create a personal treatment plan, usually consisting of bioidentical hormone supplementation and, if necessary, supplements.
Start Traject
Het traject duurt minimaal 6 maanden om er zeker van te zijn dat we je goed begeleiden.
Monitoring
During your treatment, you will be in regular contact with our expert team. Blood tests are done every 12 weeks for adjustments.
Evaluation
At the end of your treatment, we will determine your next steps together. This may include a referral back to the doctor or further guidance with Menovia.
Persoonlijke zorg, op maat samengesteld
Frequently asked questions
Declining hormones slow your resting metabolism and shift fat storage to the belly. A diet that used to work doesn't address this hormonal cause, which is why the results are often disappointing.
Hormone therapy itself already has a favorable effect on metabolism and fat distribution. Whether it fits your situation and which additional options make sense is determined by the doctor during the intake.
GLP-1 medication supports satiety and insulin sensitivity. It's an additional option when lifestyle and hormone supplementation don't give enough results, always under strict medical supervision.
Since May 2026, part of the consultations are reimbursed through supplementary insurance, depending on your insurer and policy.
Want to know more?
Go to our frequently asked questions
Experiences from other women
Start with personal hormonal guidance
Want to find out whether hormone therapy is right for you and what your body needs during menopause? Schedule an intake consultation with Menovia.
