Does HRT Help With Weight Loss?

Hormone replacement therapy is not a weight-loss treatment, but it can make midlife weight easier to manage. Here is what it can and cannot do.

What HRT can do

Ease night sweats and improve sleep, which helps control appetite
Support muscle and bone
Some studies suggest women on HRT store less fat around the abdomen
Improve energy, making exercise easier

What HRT cannot do

It will not melt away weight on its own, and studies have not shown that HRT causes weight gain either. Read does HRT cause weight gain.

HRT and GLP-1 medication together

For women who need more help, GLP-1 medication reduces appetite and supports weight loss. Early research suggests some women on hormone therapy may lose more weight on a GLP-1 than those who are not, though more study is needed. See menopause weight loss.

For men

In men with confirmed low testosterone, treatment can make it easier to build muscle and lose fat. See low testosterone and weight gain.

Have questions about your hormones or weight? Julie Bernell, MD, sees women and men from Kingwood, The Woodlands and the Lake Houston area at our New Caney office. Call 281-319-4111 or request an appointment.

This article is for general education and does not replace individualized medical advice.