All articles
Does Estradiol Cause Weight Gain?
Reading time:
6 min
Menopause
Get expert guidance and a personalized care plan designed around you.
How Do Estradiol Levels Impact Weight Gain?
Estradiol naturally decreases during menopause. As one of estradiol’s main functions is to help regulate metabolism and body weight, lower levels of estradiol may therefore lead to weight gain (4).
According to one study, menopausal women are 3x more likely to develop obesity than premenopausal women (5).
How Is Hormonal Weight Gain Diagnosed?
Your provider can help you determine if your weight gain is due to a hormonal imbalance. They will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your overall health to understand the root cause better.
Various factors, including age, family history, your described symptoms, and physical exam, can help you decide whether further testing is necessary and, if so, which ones you should pursue. A typical starting place is to get an updated blood sample and review your latest lab values regarding your hormones, cholesterol, and blood sugar. This is to screen for hormonal imbalances and your risk for high cholesterol and diabetes. Your provider may suggest further testing involving imaging or more invasive tests depending on what they think is the driving force behind your specific set of symptoms.
What Are the Risks of Untreated Hormonal Weight Gain?
The risks of untreated hormonal weight gain can vary depending on which hormonal imbalance contributes to your weight gain. For example, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is commonly associated with weight gain and if left untreated, can lead to infertility.
There are a number of risks associated with any weight gain that leads to obesity. Being overweight (BMI >25) or obese (BMI >30) is linked to the development of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disease, and stroke (6).
Can You Treat Low Estrogen?
Women in menopause who are suffering from low estrogen levels may benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For women who are at higher risk for breast cancer or forming blood clots, non-hormonal treatments are preferred.
HRT is commonly prescribed for women in menopause or perimenopause, which is the period leading up to menopause when your ovaries gradually stop working. HRT helps replenish hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, both of which naturally decrease with age. These hormones dip more dramatically around menopause and can cause some unpleasant yet common symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and weight gain.
HRT can help treat symptoms related to low estrogen and progesterone either in the form of a pill, patch, cream, gel, or injectables. Your provider can help you decide if estrogen or a combination estrogen-progesterone replacement plan is right for you.
Estrogen replacement can help manage your hormonal imbalances while also reducing the risk of bone fractures and developing heart disease. Your provider will likely try to get you on the lowest effective dose to minimize the risks that come along with HRT, such as blood clots and stroke.
For those with obesity, weight loss can be crucial to manage the hormonal fluctuations during menopause. GLP-1 RA medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, can be effective solutions. These medications target hormones controlling appetite and blood sugar to promote weight loss. Women at the perimenopausal or menopausal stage can benefit greatly from exploring these options if they meet the following criteria:
BMI over 30
BMI over 27 with a weight-related health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol
Key Takeaways
Low estrogen levels, especially estradiol, can increase your risk of weight gain, osteoporosis, and heart disease. Talk with your provider to see if low estrogen levels may be contributing to your weight gain, especially if you’re nearing or at the age of menopause. There are a few therapeutic options available to help you manage your weight during menopause, including hormone replacement therapy and GLP-1 weight loss medications for those who need a more intensive weight loss management solution.
If you’re interested in exploring your options for medication-assisted weight loss, Mochi Health can help you access affordable, holistic care. The program offers 1-on-1 provider support from licensed physicians, 24/7 customer support, direct provider messaging, and medications delivered to your door. Find out if you’re eligible today.
References:
Gold, E. B. (2011). The Timing of the Age at Which Natural Menopause Occurs. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 38(3), 425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.002
Vigil, P., Meléndez, J., Petkovic, G., & Del Río, J. P. (2022). The importance of estradiol for body weight regulation in women. Frontiers in endocrinology, 13, 951186. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.951186
Hariri, L. (2023a, June 28). Estradiol. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549797/
Lizcano, F., & Guzmán, G. (2014). Estrogen Deficiency and the Origin of Obesity during Menopause. BioMed research international, 2014, 757461. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/757461
Eshtiaghi R, Esteghamati A, Nakhjavani M. Menopause is an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome in Iranian women. Maturitas. 2010;65(3):262–266. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378512209004034
Lim Y, Boster J. Obesity and Comorbid Conditions. [Updated 2023 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574535/#
Share this post
Menopause
More articles
Read next
For iOS & Android
