Pairing Hormone Therapy with Medical Weight Loss Can Reset Metabolism and Confidence

Weight changes around midlife can feel confusing and unfair. But there are clear reasons why they happen – and ways to tackle them – says Dr. Gustav Lo, chief medical officer at Cosmetic Skin and Laser Center and RegenCen.

“Women have three different hormones – progesterone, testosterone and estrogen. Each one of those hormones has to be in balance,” Lo said. “When they get out of balance or when they go completely away, such as menopause, the metabolism changes.”

Lo explained that testosterone can start dipping in the late 20s and progesterone in the 30s, which is why many women notice it’s suddenly harder to lose a few pounds after a vacation. When estrogen drops during menopause, body shape often shifts. “When that one goes away, any weight women gain tends to go around the midsection,” he said. “Here we call it the menopausal belt, and nobody likes that.”

For men, the story is slower but similar. “Testosterone drops slowly over time, starting usually in the 30s,” Lo said. “Around the 40s, guys will start experiencing the same thing – lower muscle mass, lower calorie burn and the same types of problems.”

Hormone therapy, he said, is about more than easing hot flashes and poor sleep. “Did you know that women have about a 40% higher risk of heart attack and stroke if they have not gone on hormone replacement therapy in their 50s?” Lo said. “These are not just hormones to help you feel better. They are to keep you safer, keep you healthier and feel better.”

The biggest wins, he said, come when patients address hormones and weight together. “Most of our menopausal patients who are coming in for hormone replacement therapy — I’d say four out of five – have some weight issues,” Lo said. “When people are not only getting rid of their menopausal symptoms … and they’re losing 3, 4, 5 pounds a month at the same time, they’re ecstatic.”

Still, he cautions against magical thinking. “A lot of people who are on hormone replacement think that weight is just going to come off very, very quickly, almost without effort. Doesn’t work like that,” Lo said. “Once you’ve developed a new set point, it’s difficult to get rid of it without putting some real effort into it. That’s why we have weight management programs.”

RegenCen has several metro Detroit locations. For more information, you can watch the video above or visit regencen.com.