Marion (age 47) gained 7 kilos: “I felt like I had no control over my body”

Marion was never concerned with losing weight. Her friends and sister were trying out different diets all the time, but she could eat whatever she liked without putting on a pound. Marion never really understood what the fuss was about. “I just thought, if you watch what you eat, you don’t gain weight. I've done a 180 on that notion.”

“I had even upped my exercise routine”

Since menopause hit, Marion’s body seems to have a mind of its own, especially when it comes to her weight. “I noticed my pants getting tighter and my belly getting fuller. After a few months, I decided to weigh myself. I almost flipped when the scale said I gained seven kilos! I couldn’t wrap my head around it. My lifestyle and diet were still pretty much the same,” Marion says. “I had even upped my exercise routine to prepare for menopause.”

A healthy lifestyle was not enough

Marion did not understand what was going on. She had a physically active lifestyle and a healthy diet. While she struggled to come to grips with her changing body, she tried every diet that was the rage.

“I tried intermittent fasting and switched to a low-carb diet, but nothing seemed to work,” she says. “According to the scales, I’m 12 kilos heavier than before menopause. I decided to see a dietician just to see if there was anything I could do. Obviously, I was missing something.”

The dietician

“The first thing the dietician did was analyse my diet and eating habits. She asked me to keep a food journal to track my meals and we talked about the impact of ageing-related hormonal changes. But she couldn’t find a cause behind my sudden weight gain.”

Despite the fact that Marion put the dietician’s tips into practice, like adding protein to her diet, she did not notice any changes to her weight. “I did feel healthy, but apparently my body did not agree. I kept packing on the pounds with no end in sight. I felt trapped in a body I had no control over. I found out later my weight gain was due to a hormonal imbalance. That's when the pieces fell into place. No wonder I was getting no results.”

Being overweight also affected Marion mentally. “I can’t deny that it made me insecure. I'd never struggled with my weight before. I just couldn’t get over the frustration of not losing weight. I was miserable and I took it out on my husband and kids.”

Could my thyroid be to blame?

Marion’s husband convinced her to visit her GP to rule out a medical reason for her weight issue. Marion was given blood tests to check her blood sugar and cholesterol levels and thyroid function, but they came back normal.

“My GP confirmed that menopause weight gain is common. However, after discussing the problem, she suggested a new approach: weight loss medication. I must admit I was taken aback because I had always told myself that weight loss medication was a last resort. But this medication was developed especially for people like me: people with hormonal issues causing sudden weight gain.”

Medication was the solution to my problem

Marion noticed a difference after only a few weeks. “I felt lighter, and the scales confirmed that I had lost a few pounds. I fit into my old blouses without the buttons stretching for mercy. I felt this immense sense of relief that I’d found a solution.”

Marion’s frustrations soon made way for motivation. “I felt much stronger, much more in control. My energy came flooding back. I used to feel stuck and frustrated with working out and not seeing results. Now I couldn't wait to get to the gym.”

Do what works for you

“Weight loss medication gave my metabolism the push it needed to start shedding those extra kilos. Slowly but surely, I got my old body back,” Marion continues. “The decision to start this medication was not an easy one, because it felt like I was ‘cheating’. But I'm over that now. What matters is that you follow your own path, listen to your body and do what works for you. For me, this meant taking medication.”

What can you do about menopausal weight gain?

Menopause makes it more likely that you will gain weight, on average one to two pounds per year between the ages of 50 and 60. Although weight gain around menopause serves a purpose, it can be detrimental to body image.

More about weight gain