New Study Offers Hope for Women Fighting Menopause Weight Gain
- Jennifer Hardy
- Jun 7
- 6 min read
I often joke that my life experiences better prepared me for a nuclear attack, massive earthquake, and financial collapse of the U.S. banking system than they did for menopause awareness. If you're like me, menopause can feel like a bit of a body betrayal.
The habits that worked for decades suddenly stop producing results. The number on the scale creeps upward despite eating the same foods. Belly fat seems to appear out of nowhere. Energy levels change. Sleep becomes unpredictable. Then comes the frustration of hearing advice that sounds suspiciously similar to "just try harder."
The reality is that weight gain during menopause is often driven by biology, not a lack of effort. New research presented at the American Diabetes Association's 86th Scientific Sessions may offer encouraging news for women navigating menopause body changes and obesity. And it involves one of the newest oral GLP-1 medications on the market.
While the findings do not change the fact that menopause is a complex health transition, they provide another option for women and healthcare providers to discuss when exploring menopause treatments and weight management strategies.
Why Menopause Often Leads to Weight Gain
Many women notice weight gain beginning during perimenopause, the transitional years leading up to menopause. Hormonal shifts involving estrogen can change how the body stores fat, often increasing abdominal fat accumulation while making weight loss more difficult.
Researchers note that menopause is a major but often overlooked contributor to obesity and weight gain. Hormonal changes can accelerate fat storage around the midsection and make it harder to lose weight or maintain previous weight loss efforts.
This helps explain why many women report:
Increased belly fat during menopause
Slower metabolism
Changes in body composition
Loss of muscle mass
More difficulty losing weight
Increased insulin resistance
Higher risk of cardiometabolic disease
For women wondering how to survive menopause without losing their mind, understanding that these changes are rooted in biology can be an important first step.
What Is Foundayo?
New research allowed Foundayo to enter the menopause weight gain chat. Foundayo, known generically as orforglipron, is a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity and certain adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical conditions.
Unlike injectable GLP-1 medications such as Zepbound, Wegovy, or Ozempic, Foundayo is taken as a tablet. One of the medication's distinguishing features is that it can be taken without food or water restrictions, making it different from some other oral GLP-1 medications currently available, like oral Wegovy.
What Did the New Menopause Study Find?
The analysis included more than 1,500 women participating in two Phase 3 clinical trials known as ATTAIN-1 and ATTAIN-2. Researchers specifically examined outcomes based on menopausal status.
The results showed meaningful weight loss across every stage of menopause.
Women Without Type 2 Diabetes
In the ATTAIN-1 trial, women taking the highest dose of Foundayo experienced:
Premenopausal women: average weight loss of 28 pounds (12.8%)
Perimenopausal women: average weight loss of 30.4 pounds (14.4%)
Postmenopausal women: average weight loss of 28.2 pounds (14.1%)
Women With Type 2 Diabetes
In the ATTAIN-2 trial, women with obesity and type 2 diabetes experienced:
Premenopausal women: average weight loss of 23.4 pounds (11.3%)
Perimenopausal women: average weight loss of 18.5 pounds (8.9%)
Postmenopausal women: average weight loss of 27.8 pounds (13.6%)
Researchers also found meaningful reductions in waist circumference across all menopausal stages, with some participants losing nearly five inches around their waist.
FULL DISCLOSURE: It's important to note that the analysis was conducted by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Foundayo, using data from its own Phase 3 clinical trials. The findings are based on data from more than 1,500 women, independent research will help further validate how oral GLP-1 medications perform across different stages of menopause.
Breakdown of Eli Lilly Study on Foundayo Use During Menopause
To get a snapshot of the menopause and Foundayo study, here's the breakdown from the Eli Lilly news release.
ATTAIN-1 | |||
Pre-menopause (n=171) | Perimenopause (n=142) | Post-menopause (n=152) | |
Baseline body weight | 219.1 lbs (99.4 kg) | 217.6 lbs (98.7 kg) | 208.6 lbs (94.6 kg) |
Change in body weight from baseline | -12.8%
(-28.0 lbs; -12.7 kg) | -14.4%
(-30.4 lbs; -13.8 kg) | -14.1%
(-28.2 lbs; -12.8 kg) |
Percent of participants achieving ≥5% weight loss | 80.3 % | 80.9 % | 82.7 % |
Percent of participants achieving ≥10% weight loss | 61.5 % | 64.2 % | 64.1 % |
Percent of participants achieving ≥15% weight loss | 40.9 % | 51.5 % | 45.4 % |
Percent of participants achieving ≥20% weight loss | 24.2 % | 29.9 % | 23.8 % |
Change in waist circumference from baseline | -4.5 in (-11.4 cm) | -4.9 in (-12.5 cm) | -4.8 in (-12.3 cm) |
ATTAIN-2 | |||
Pre-menopause (n=10) | Perimenopause (n=33) | Post-menopause (n=109) | |
Baseline body weight | 237.9 lbs (107.9 kg) | 209.7 lbs (95.1 kg) | 202.2 lbs (91.7 kg) |
Change in body weight from baseline | -11.3%
(-23.4 lbs; -10.6 kg) | -8.9%
(-18.5 lbs; -8.4 kg) | -13.6%
(-27.8 lbs; -12.6 kg) |
Percent of participants achieving ≥5% weight loss | 79.5 % | 67.1 % | 81.6 % |
Percent of participants achieving ≥10% weight loss | 52.5 % | 39.5 % | 68.0 % |
Percent of participants achieving ≥15% weight loss | 36.4 % | 20.4 % | 44.2 % |
Percent of participants achieving ≥20% weight loss | 32.1 % | 9.7 % | 21.7 % |
Change in waist circumference from baseline | -4.3 in (-11.0 cm) | -3.3 in (-8.4 cm) | -4.3 in (-11.0 cm) |
Why Waist Circumference Matters During Menopause
Many women focus exclusively on the scale, but healthcare providers often pay close attention to waist circumference. As estrogen levels decline, fat distribution often shifts toward the abdomen. Increased abdominal fat has been associated with a higher risk of:
Heart disease
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Metabolic syndrome
Stroke
The reductions in waist circumference observed in these studies suggest benefits beyond the number on the scale alone.
What This Means for Women Experiencing Menopause Weight Gain
The most important takeaway is not that every woman should rush to ask for a prescription.
Instead, the findings reinforce something many women have suspected for years: menopause weight gain is real, biologically driven, and deserving of evidence-based treatment options.
For decades, women experiencing menopause body changes were often told that gaining weight was simply an unavoidable part of aging. While lifestyle factors still matter, growing research suggests that hormonal changes, metabolic shifts, and obesity treatment options deserve a larger role in the conversation.
These findings may be particularly relevant for women who:
Have gained weight during perimenopause
Struggle with stubborn belly fat during menopause
Have obesity or are overweight with related health conditions
Have tried traditional diet and exercise approaches without lasting success
Want to explore GLP-1 medications with their healthcare provider
As someone who lost a substantial amount of weight on Zepbound, I'm now considering transitioning to Foundayo for weight management, another potential benefit of the medication, according to Eli Lilly's studies.
Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider
If you're interested in learning more about GLP-1 medications during menopause, take these questions to your next healthcare provider visit:
Whether your weight and health history make you a candidate for treatment
The differences between oral and injectable GLP-1 medications
Potential side effects and risks
How hormone replacement therapy may interact with your overall treatment plan
Whether insurance coverage is available
Long-term expectations for weight maintenance
No medication is right for everyone, and menopause treatment plans should always be individualized.
Is Foundayo Right for Your Menopause Journey?
Weight gain during menopause can feel isolating, especially when it seems like your body has suddenly stopped responding to the habits that worked for years.
New data presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting suggests that oral GLP-1 therapy may help women achieve meaningful weight loss during premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause.
The research is not a magic solution, and it doesn't erase the many challenges that come with menopause. But it does add to a growing body of evidence that menopause-related weight gain is a legitimate medical concern, not a personal failure.
For women searching for answers about menopause weight gain, belly fat after menopause, or available menopause treatments, these findings may provide another worthwhile conversation to have with a trusted healthcare provider.
Menopause Products I Recommend To Relieve Symptoms
While I started hormone replacement therapy about six months ago, I still have go-to products I use to keep my side effects in check. This is in addition to taking Zepbound weekly.
Ancient Nutrition Menopause Support
If you're taking GLP-1s, you know the importance of collagen. Why not mix your daily needs with products from Ancient Nutrition that support the rest of this life phase?
As an Amazon affiliate, I might earn a commission on any purchase at no extra cost to you. That said, I only promote affiliate products I personally use and have good experiences with. My recommendation can't be bought or incentivized.
Comments