Menopause and weight gain - two words that strike fear into the hearts of millions of women. But what if everything you've been told about inevitable weight gain during menopause isn't the whole story? What if there are strategies, backed by cutting-edge research, that can help you navigate this transition without accepting defeat?

Join Holly and Jim as they tackle one of their most requested topics with not one, but two powerhouse experts. Dr. Nanette Santoro, a leading authority in women's health and reproductive endocrinology at the University of Colorado, brings insights from groundbreaking studies like SWAN that have followed thousands of women through menopause. Alongside her, Dr. Annie Caldwell, a clinical health psychologist specializing in the mind-body connection during menopause, offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective that bridges psychology, endocrinology, and behavioral medicine.

This isn't another episode telling you to "just accept the weight gain." Instead, you'll discover evidence-based strategies, debunk persistent myths, and learn why this life stage might actually be the perfect time to make lasting changes to your health.

Discussed on the episode:

• The surprising truth about average weight gain during menopause (it's less than you think)
• Why some women gain significant weight while others don't - and what makes the difference
• The metabolic flexibility theory that could explain everything about menopause weight changes
• How sleep disruption and mood changes create the perfect storm for weight gain
• Why traditional weight loss strategies stop working - and what to do instead
• The role of resistance training in preserving muscle mass and metabolic rate
• Hormone replacement therapy myths: what it can and can't do for weight management
• How GLP-1 medications are changing the game for menopausal women
• The biggest myths about menopause that keep women stuck
• Why intermittent fasting might actually work better for women than previously thought
• When to seek help from a menopause specialist - and how to find one
• Sleep strategies that don't involve prescription medications
• The future of menopause treatment and what's coming next

Resources Mentioned:

• Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
• CBT-i Coach app
• Self-compassion meditations by Kristin Neff
• Weight Loss And... Episode #71 on intermittent fasting with Dr. Catanacci