Using Semaglutide & Edibles for Menopausal Weight Loss | 3000+ Words

Understanding Weight Gain During Menopause

Many women going through menopause experience frustrating weight gain. Changes in hormone levels during this transition can influence appetite, metabolism, body fat distribution, and more. While diet and exercise remain foundational for weight management, some women find the scale climbing regardless of their best efforts.

If you feel like you're fighting an uphill battle with your weight during menopause, you're not alone. Let's explore the factors at play and whether medications like semaglutide or edibles could provide helpful solutions.

Why Menopause Causes Weight Gain

Weight gain during menopause stems from a complex interplay of hormonal, physiological, and behavioral changes.

Estrogen levels decline as women go through menopause, while testosterone becomes relatively higher. This hormonal shift encourages more fat storage around the abdomen rather than the hips and thighs.

Dropping estrogen interferes with appetite regulation, often increasing hunger and calorie intake. Some women notice food cravings or a tendency to eat more comfort foods.

Menopause can reduce resting metabolic rate, meaning you burn fewer calories just going about your day. Exercise helps counteract this effect.

Changes in body composition include increased body fat and decreased muscle mass. The loss of muscle further slows metabolism.

Some women become less physically active during menopause, perhaps due to changing priorities or motivation. Sedentary behavior promotes weight gain.

High stress levels can increase levels of cortisol, a hormone that prompts fat storage around the middle. Stress can also disrupt sleep and promote overeating.

In summary, menopausal shifts in hormones, metabolism, body composition, physical activity, and stress response all help explain that stubborn scale weight many women experience.

Healthy Lifestyle Habits Are Still Key

Achieving or maintaining a healthy weight still comes down to consistent lifestyle habits before considering medications:

• Following a balanced, moderate calorie diet focusing on lean proteins, fiber-rich vegetables and fruits, and whole grains.
• Engaging in regular physical activity such as brisk walking, strength training, yoga, etc.
• Limiting processed foods, added sugars, saturated fats, and overall calorie intake.
• Managing stress through meditation, therapy, social connection, or other relaxation techniques.
• Getting enough high-quality sleep to allow your body to regulate appetite hormones.

Adopting healthy eating patterns, staying active, managing stress, and prioritizing sleep provide the foundation for weight management during menopause or any stage of life. But when such lifestyle remedies aren't providing sufficient results, medications offer another avenue to consider.

Understanding How Semaglutide Works for Weight Loss

Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, research demonstrated it also effectively prompts weight loss.

Mechanisms of Action

Semaglutide works via multiple mechanisms to reduce appetite and calorie intake:

• Slows gastric emptying so you feel fuller longer after eating
• Influences areas of the brain involved in appetite signals to reduce hunger
• May enhance sensations of fullness by targeting receptors in the gastrointestinal tract
• Leads to lower blood sugar levels, decreasing fat storage

The compound essentially tricks the body into feeling satisfied with smaller food portions. This results in reduced calorie consumption and enhanced weight loss compared to lifestyle changes alone.

Effectiveness for Weight Loss

In a 68-week clinical trial, participants taking semaglutide lost an average of 15% of their body weight compared to only 3% for those taking a placebo. People taking semaglutide also demonstrated better improvement in cardiovascular risk factors.

A meta-analysis including over 2500 participants found that those taking semaglutide lost 8-11% more body weight than control groups. People with obesity or overweight taking the drug alongside diet and exercise lost up to 5x more weight than lifestyle intervention alone.

Research consistently demonstrates greater weight loss with semaglutide compared to other anti-obesity medications. The effects persist as long as the medication is taken regularly.

Approval as Wegovy for Weight Management

Based on strong evidence for safety and efficacy, the FDA approved semaglutide in 2021 for chronic weight management under the brand name Wegovy. It represents one of only a handful of medications specifically approved for long-term weight loss.

Wegovy is self-administered once weekly via subcutaneous injection. The dose gradually increases over the first 5 weeks based on tolerability. Clinical trials showed the average person taking Wegovy loses 12-15% of their body weight over 68 weeks.

Wegovy appears significantly more effective than older weight loss medications like phentermine or orlistat. However, there are side effects to consider.

Potential Adverse Effects

The most common side effects of semaglutide involve the gastrointestinal system, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, etc. These symptoms are usually worse at the start of treatment and improve over days to weeks of use.

Other possible side effects include headache, fatigue, back pain, dizziness, cough, and reactions at the injection site. There is also a potential risk of developing thyroid tumors, so thyroid function requires monitoring.

Semaglutide causes delays in stomach emptying that could worsen problems like gastroparesis. People with a personal or family history of certain endocrine tumors should avoid the drug.

The compound can interact with other diabetes medications, so coordination with a healthcare provider is essential.

How Edibles Could Complement Weight Loss Efforts

Edibles offer another non-traditional avenue to potentially support weight loss efforts during menopause. Edibles are food products infused with cannabis, typically delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD).

Modulating Appetite and Metabolism

The cannabis compounds in edibles interact with the body's endocannabinoid system. This system regulates appetite, food intake, and energy storage.

Early research indicates THC administration before a meal can improve satiety and decrease food consumption. Other studies found lower fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance when people took oral THC before meals.

These preliminary findings suggest cannabis could modulate appetite, blood sugar control, and calorie intake. However, high-quality clinical trials are still needed.

Addressing Exercise and Lifestyle Factors

Cannabis is often portrayed as promoting sedentary behavior, but many people report using THC and CBD to increase enjoyment of exercise, outdoor activities, meditation, etc.

Some evidence points to cannabis decreasing pain, anxiety, fatigue, nausea, and improving sleep - all factors relevant to overall health behaviors.

If edibles help overcome barriers to healthy living like pain or lack of motivation, they could complement weight loss efforts. More studies are underway investigating these applications.

Downsides and Unknowns

Relatively little research has directly examined edibles for weight management, so potential downsides and long-term effects are largely unknown.

Some studies link regular cannabis to increased calorie consumption, a tendency toward less healthy food choices, and decreased physical activity - all factors that could negatively impact weight.

The dose-dependent effects of THC on appetite and metabolism remain unclear. And studies on CBD are similarly inconclusive so far.

Until larger clinical trials demonstrate effective dosing, timing, and delivery methods, edibles pose too many uncertainties to recommend for weight loss. As with any drug, side effects and drug interactions are also possible.

A Team Approach for Weight Loss Success

Achieving significant weight loss during menopause realistically requires a comprehensive approach that healthcare providers can help develop.

This includes assessing any medical or hormonal imbalances contributing to stubborn weight gain in addition to reviewing diet, activity, sleep, and stress. Some women benefit from consulting a registered dietitian or mental health therapist.

Your provider might suggest adjusting the strategy over weeks or months if initial lifestyle changes don't provide the desired results.

Determining Role of Weight Loss Medications

Weight management medications like semaglutide might be appropriate for some women after trying nutrition and fitness interventions. These drugs likely provide the biggest impact for those who have been unable to lose weight via diet and exercise alone.

Your provider will review your full health history and any conditions that could increase risks before prescribing weight loss drugs. You'll also discuss realistic weight loss goals and follow-up to monitor progress.

Edibles Require More Study

There isn't enough evidence for healthcare providers to recommend cannabis edibles specifically for weight loss at this time. Some women self-experiment with edibles alongside lifestyle changes due to anecdotal reports.

However, unknowns around appropriate dosing, potential side effects, and long-term safety mean edibles can't be endorsed clinically. As with any substance, those who try edibles should closely monitor results and risks.

Ongoing Lifestyle Habits and Support

Prescription medicines or edibles alone won't lead to permanent weight reduction. True long-term success requires adopting healthier eating patterns, exercise habits, and coping mechanisms with support from your healthcare team.

Your provider can connect you with additional resources like nutrition counseling, support groups, or mental health services. Maintaining follow-up appointments helps track progress and make any necessary adjustments.

With realistic expectations and the right tools, most women can achieve meaningful weight loss during menopause. Be patient with yourself and don't hesitate to ask for help.

The Bottom Line

Weight gain during menopause can feel daunting and dispiriting. But a variety of solutions exist, from proven healthy lifestyle changes to innovative medications.

Semaglutide represents one of the most effective prescription weight loss options today for those struggling to slim down through diet and activity alone. Realistic expectations around results and side effects are important.

Some people experiment with THC or CBD edibles to potentially enhance weight loss efforts, but little evidence supports this yet. More research is needed to demonstrate efficacy and safety.

Addressing menopausal weight gain requires diligence, self-compassion, medical guidance, and often some trial-and-error. But by sticking with healthy habits and exploring solutions, most women can ultimately achieve success.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.