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Peri + Post Menopause: The Lowdown on Hormones and Weight Management
Weight gain in menopause isn't inevitable. A naturopathic doctor explains how declining estrogen shifts fat storage and how hormone support can help you thrive.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Courtney Ranieri, ND, a licensed naturopathic doctor registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (Reg. #3726). Last reviewed July 2026.
Menopause brings with it its own set of challenges and symptoms and weight gain may seem like an inevitable side effect of aging.
20% of women gain over 10lbs during the menopause transition period, mostly around the midsection and abdomen (Knight 2021)
Why is this the case? Estrogen influences where women store fat in the body and your total caloric burn.
As we enter peri-menopause, the amount of estrogen we produce decreases as the amount of eggs left in our ovaries decreases. This eventually leads to a cessation of our cycles.
The loss of estrogen in peri-menopause causes weight to be stored at higher rates in the midsection area.
On top of hormones shifting, aging is associated with slowing of the metabolism. Estrogen has an influence on total caloric burn, and we see an accelerated increase in fat mass and decrease in lean tissue during the four years around peri-menopause.
The good news? By supporting hormones, lifestyle, nutrition and testing we can get you feeling better and hitting your goals!
About the author
Dr. Courtney Ranieri, ND is a board-licensed naturopathic doctor and the founder of Somewhere Health. She earned her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto and holds an Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Ontario. Her clinical focus spans hormonal health, fertility, digestion, and women's health, with advanced training in pelvic floor therapy and integrative fertility care.
