Hormone therapy added to GLP-1 drug may aid menopause weight loss

For women who have trouble gaining weight after menopause, a new study suggests that adding hormone therapy to a popular obesity drug may lead to greater weight loss.

According to a Mayo Clinic study, postmenopausal women lost about 35% more weight when they used menopausal hormone therapy in combination with tirzepatide, a GLP-1-based, Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for people who are overweight and obese, compared to those who used the drug alone.

The findings, published in February in the journal Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, highlight a possible new strategy to address post-menopausal weight gain, where hormonal changes can increase the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

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The first author of the study is Dr. “This study provides important information to develop more effective and personalized strategies to manage cardiometabolic risk in postmenopausal women,” Regina Castaneda said in a statement.

Researchers analyzed 120 overweight or obese postmenopausal women who took tirzepatide for at least 12 months; of these, 40 had also used hormone therapy and 80 had also used hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy is often used to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, while tirzepatide helps regulate appetite and blood sugar.

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According to the study, women in the hormone therapy group lost an average of 19.2% of their body weight, while this rate was 14.0% in the group without hormone therapy; approximately 35% greater relative weight loss; more women reached significant weight loss thresholds.

Despite the results, the researchers emphasized that the study was observational and cannot prove cause and effect.

Hormonal changes after menopause can increase weight gain and health risks. (iStock)

D., an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study. “Since this was not a randomized trial, we cannot say that hormone therapy caused additional weight loss,” said Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade.

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Outside experts agree that the findings should be interpreted with caution.

Board-certified endocrinologist Dr. “As with all observational studies, we need to interpret this study with a grain of salt,” Gillian Goddard told Fox News Digital.

The findings show a link but do not prove that hormone therapy, which usually includes estrogen, directly causes additional weight loss, said Goddard, who is also an assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

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“There may be significant differences between the two groups,” he added. “The group taking primarily estrogen may be healthier than the groups not taking estrogen. … Healthy people are more likely to eat a healthy diet and exercise in addition to taking tirzepatide. This may lead to greater weight loss.”

Tirzepatide, a GLP-1-based drug, may be more effective for weight loss when paired with hormone therapy, according to researchers. (iStock)

Hurtado Andrade noted that the therapy’s relief of symptoms may also improve sleep and well-being, making it easier for the group to maintain diet and exercise routines.

The researchers also noted a possible biological explanation. According to the study, preclinical data suggest that estrogen may enhance the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1-based drugs such as tirzepatide.

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Goddard said the theory is plausible but unproven.

Hormone therapy can relieve menopause symptoms and help women get back on track with diet and exercise. (iStock)

“The other possibility is that estrogen somehow interacts with tirzepatide, making it more potent,” he said. “We’ll need randomized studies to understand this better.”

As for safety, experts say using the two together appears to be safe for most women. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, hormone therapy is not recommended for all patients, especially those with a history of certain cancers, blood clots or other underlying health risks.

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Future randomized studies will aim to confirm the findings and investigate whether the combination improves broader cardiometabolic health outcomes, the researchers say, according to the study.

Experts say more research is needed to confirm whether hormone therapy directly improves weight loss results with GLP-1 drugs. (iStock)

“If approved, this study could accelerate the development and adoption of new, evidence-based strategies to reduce this risk for millions of postmenopausal women advancing through this life stage,” Hurtado Andrade said. he said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the study’s authors for comment.