As more women turn to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro to lose weight, they usually do so without the necessary critical support to protect their long-term health.
At present, too many women are undergoing major metabolic transitions without resources. Health, strength, and longevity are the real ultimate goal – not just weight loss. If the industry fails to provide critical wraparound care, we risk trading a health crisis. Women may lose too much weight, but they can also lose muscle mass and bone density, putting them at greater risk of fragility, fractures and long-term metabolic decline.
Healthcare and welfare leaders have a responsibility to provide better and more comprehensive obesity care to this patient population to ensure all the support women need to maintain muscle, bone strength and metabolic health over the long term.
GLP-1 is a tool, not a standalone solution
As women transition to menopause, the decline in estrogen causes slow metabolism, the fat in the visceral accumulation around the abdomen, and muscle mass decreases. This produces a higher risk of insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, even for women who are not overweight.
For many, GLP-1 drugs effectively manage weight gain, reduce appetite and increase insulin sensitivity. However, these drugs do not address the various metabolic changes that occur during menopause. Hormones, biology and lifestyles all interact in unique ways for women at this stage in unique ways. Taking an holistic health approach is much more effective than simply relying on one effective medication to balance all of these factors.
Hidden risks of rapid weight loss during menopause
The situation where prescriptions alone GLP-1 has no support is not a sustainable model of obesity care. Weight loss without nutritional and physical intervention can accelerate two biggest menopause risks: muscle loss (sarcopenia) and decreased bone density (osteopenia and osteoporosis). As estrogen drops, the body will naturally lose muscle mass. If not paired with strength training and adequate protein intake, GLP-1 can aggravate this loss, further slowing metabolism and making long-term weight worse.
Menopause women have experienced faster bone loss and rapid weight loss can speed up the process. Without drug resistance training and adequate calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D intake, women may unconsciously increase the risk of cracks and mobility problems.
This creates an unsettling paradox: a woman may successfully lose weight on GLP-1, but in doing so, she may become weaker, less fluid, and more susceptible to chronic diseases and harm. Worse, if she doesn’t have a healthy habit during medication treatment, she may recover visceral fat when she falls off GLP-1.
Four basic pillars of obesity in menopause women
Healthcare systems and employer welfare leaders must expand their approach to obesity care to ensure women using GLP-1 or other weight loss strategies are supported by medical nutrition therapy (MNT), exercise programs, and long-term metabolic health tracking. In order for GLP-1 to be truly effective for menopausal women, they must be incorporated into a broader care strategy, including:
- Nutritional guidance to prevent muscle loss and support long-term metabolic health
- Strength training program to maintain lean body weight and bone density
- Mental health support to ensure appetite suppression does not lead to disordered eating styles
- Long-term metabolic monitoring to assess insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular risk factors and functional strength
These interventions should not be optional – they should be a core component of the obesity treatment plan for menopausal women.
Menopause health has long been an afterthought for health care and employer-sponsored benefits. Weight gain during menopause is not only a lifestyle problem, but also a metabolic shift that requires targeted, scientifically supported interventions. It’s time for healthcare leaders, employers and policy makers to strengthen and provide all the support menopause women need.
GLP-1 can be an effective tool, but cannot replace the key need for comprehensive care that prioritizes muscle, bone and metabolic health. Women need to obtain resources that enable them to drive menopause with strength and confidence. If we continue to view weight loss as the only indicator of success, we will make it impossible for women across the entire generation to receive better, more sustainable care.
Photo: Peter Dazeley, Getty Images
Gretchen Zimmermann is VP Clinical Strategy at VIDA Health.
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