CHALLENGES OF WEIGHT LOSS DURING THE MENOPAUSE MENOPAUSE AWARENESS DAY 2023

94.4 FM Salford City Radio Jimmy Petruzzi interviews Dr Amanda Avery, Slimming World’s Health and Research Consultant Dietitian
Sue Sykes, case study Sue was 49 and weighing over 20 stone when she first started experiencing menopause symptoms – including between 15 and 20 hot flushes a day. With the support and guidance of her Slimming World group, Sue managed to lose 9 pounds in the first week and has now lost a total of 9 stone. Since losing weight, while Sue still has the occasional hot flush, her menopause symptoms have reduced.
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CHALLENGES OF WEIGHT LOSS DURING THE MENOPAUSE

MENOPAUSE AWARENESS DAY 2023

According to a survey, 85% of women say weight loss is more challenging during the perimenopause/after the menopause.

In fact, 79% reported that they felt their body shape had changed during this time. 90% said they’d gained weight around the waist and 37% reported a loss of muscle mass.

Now, to mark Menopause Awareness Day on Wednesday 18th October 2023, Slimming World, who conducted the research with their members*, are highlighting that you can successfully lose weight by making healthy lifestyle changes despite the new challenges the menopause can bring.

Over three quarters (79%) of the members questioned who were going through the perimenopause or had experienced the menopause said they had successfully lost weight by following Slimming World’s programme.

Meanwhile, a recent separate study published in Clinical Nutrition Open Science** revealed eight in 10 (83%) current Slimming World members reported that their health had improved up to three years after joining.

93% of members polled in the Slimming World survey attributed the improvement to their weight management and the lifestyle changes they’d made.

Of course, every woman’s experience of the menopause is unique. When it comes to symptoms of the perimenopause, over half (51%) of those questioned said they felt tired or lacked energy, some had difficulty concentrating (38%), and others found difficultly sleeping (37%).

Meanwhile, 30% reported memory problems and 29% said they had a loss of interest in sex.

Reassuringly though, the support and guidance offered around eating a healthy, balanced diet and developing and maintaining an active lifestyle can help manage symptoms and support weight loss for women during this time in their lives.

Sue Sykes, case study Sue was 49 and weighing over 20 stone when she first started experiencing menopause symptoms – including between 15 and 20 hot flushes a day. With the support and guidance of her Slimming World group, Sue managed to lose 9 pounds in the first week and has now lost a total of 9 stone. Since losing weight, while Sue still has the occasional hot flush, her menopause symptoms have reduced.

* Data collated from an online poll from 14th to 26th September 2023 of 2,472 Slimming World group and online members who were either experiencing the perimenopause, or who had already gone through the menopause.

** Published in Clinical Nutrition Open Science