The headlines are everywhere, celebrities dropping dress sizes on Ozempic, influencers showing off “magic” weight loss results with Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Mounjaro. It’s not surprising so many women are now wondering which weight loss drug is best for menopause.
It’s tempting to believe these new weight loss medications might be the answer to your menopausal weight gain. Especially when you’re doing everything “right” trying to eat healthy, exercising, cutting carbs, and yet, the weight around your middle just won’t shift.
It feels unfair. And after months (or years) of trying to lose weight the “normal” way, it’s easy to think, “Maybe I need something stronger. Maybe these weight loss drugs are the only way.”
But here’s the truth no one is telling you.
These drugs don’t fix the real problem behind menopause weight gain. They don’t rebuild your metabolism, they don’t bring back your muscle mass, and they definitely don’t help you feel stronger, fitter, or more vibrant.
At best, they offer temporary appetite suppression with side effects. At worst, they leave you weaker, frailer, and even more frustrated than when you started.
So before you pin your hopes on the next “miracle jab”, let’s take a proper look at what really causes menopause weight gain, and what actually works to lose it.
What Weight Loss Injections Actually Do
Weight loss injections like Ozempic and Wegovy belong to a group of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. In simple terms, they work by mimicking a hormone that helps control blood sugar and appetite.
This slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach, making you feel fuller for longer and helping you eat less.
On paper, that sounds helpful. If you’re eating less, you should lose weight, right?
The problem is, these drugs only tackle your appetite. They don’t address the hormonal shifts that are making it harder for you to lose weight after 40, things like falling oestrogen levels, increased insulin resistance, and a slowing metabolism.
For women in menopause, this means you might lose a few pounds, but it won’t be the life-changing transformation you’re hoping for.
To make matters worse, studies show that the use of GLP-1 agonist drugs can lead to a 13.9% loss of lean muscle mass during treatment. Less muscle means a slower metabolism, more softness around the body, and even frailty as you age.
That’s not what you want.
The Most Popular Weight Loss Injections on the Market
Ozempic
Ozempic is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes but has gained popularity for its weight loss side effects. It’s a once-weekly injection that can help reduce appetite and support blood sugar control.
While it can assist with gradual weight loss, it wasn’t specifically designed for weight management. Side effects like nausea, fatigue, and headaches are common, and most women regain the weight once they stop taking it.
Wegovy
Wegovy is essentially a higher-dose version of Ozempic, approved specifically for weight loss. Clinical trials show people can lose up to 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks.
However, side effects are often stronger due to the higher dose, and it comes with the same issue of muscle loss and weight regain after stopping.
It’s also expensive and difficult to access in the UK, making it a less viable option for many women.
Saxenda
Unlike Ozempic and Wegovy, Saxenda requires daily injections.
While it can reduce appetite and support modest weight loss, it’s generally less effective than Wegovy and comes with similar side effects like nausea and digestive discomfort. Many people find it difficult to maintain long-term.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Mounjaro is a newer medication that targets two hormones instead of one, aiming to provide even greater weight loss.
Early results are promising, but it’s still being evaluated for long-term safety.
Availability is limited in the UK, and like its counterparts, it doesn’t address the hormonal root causes of menopausal weight gain.
Why Weight Loss Drugs Aren’t Enough for Menopausal Women
The main issue with relying on weight loss injections during menopause is that they don’t fix what’s actually changed in your body.
As oestrogen and progesterone levels fall, your body stores fat differently — especially around the middle.
Your muscle mass naturally declines, which slows your metabolism. Add in higher stress levels, poor sleep, and insulin resistance, and it’s no wonder fat loss becomes so much harder.
Weight loss medications might help you eat less, but they don’t rebuild muscle, speed up your metabolism, or rebalance your hormones.
In fact, by causing muscle loss, they can make the problem worse.
So, if injections aren’t the answer, what should you do?
What to Do Instead of Weight Loss Injections
You don’t need fad diets or extreme workouts to get results. What you need is a smarter approach, one that works with your body, not against it.
Step 1: Balance Your Hormones Naturally
From your early 40s, hormonal changes begin long before menopause hits officially. Oestrogen and progesterone start to fluctuate, your stress response heightens, and you may notice more fat gain around the middle. Joint aches, stubborn weight, and low energy can follow.
That’s why generic “eat less, move more” approaches don’t work anymore. They weren’t designed for your body now.
Instead, choose a strategy made specifically for women over 40, one that supports your hormones, rather than fighting them.
To support your hormones:
- Eat regular meals: Skipping meals or undereating increases cortisol.
- Reduce caffeine and alcohol: Both can disrupt hormone balance, sleep, and blood sugar.
- Limit refined sugar and processed foods: These spike insulin, leading to fat gain.
Start by aiming for balanced meals 3x a day: protein, healthy fats, and fibre-rich carbs at each one.
Before Trinity I was fat, frumpy, miserable and depressed. I was 104kg (16st 5lb) and a size 20. The first challenge I had to overcome was my mindset – the Trinity programme helped me realise that I’m worth the effort, that it was time to put myself first after years of looking after other people more than me. It’s been a real transformation – not only how I look but in how I feel, how I think about myself, and in my health too. I’ve lost 29kg. But more important than the weight loss itself, my health has vastly improved and I’m no longer prediabetic. I’m unrecognisable from the person I was before.”
– Sally Osborn (66), Trinity Client
Step 2: Strength Train in a Low-Stress Way
Not all workouts help women in midlife. In fact, the wrong ones can backfire. HIIT, running, spinning, couch to 5k and intense gym classes often push stress hormones through the roof.
That stress shuts down fat loss and makes injury more likely—especially when joints are more sensitive.
What works better? LIST—Low-Impact Strength Training. This method uses slow, controlled movements to build lean muscle without stressing your joints or hormones.
Our clients do it from home, in 30-minute sessions, just three times a week, and they routinely drop 1–2 dress sizes in 12 weeks.
More importantly, they firm up rather than ending up with the soft, saggy look weight loss injections can cause.
Step 3: Do a Short-Term Diet Reset
Hormonal shifts and busy lives often lead to unhelpful food habits. And the more sugar, alcohol, or processed food you have, the more you want, it’s a vicious cycle.
We help clients break that cycle through our Diet Makeover. For just 1–2 weeks, we temporarily cut four food groups—wheat, alcohol, dairy and sugar (WADS).
These foods tend to be calorie-dense, hormone-disrupting, and highly addictive.
Many people have underlying intolerances to them without realising it.
Cutting them out even short-term can lead to rapid change. It’s not uncommon to lose 4–6lbs in a week or two and feel noticeably less bloated, foggy, and fatigued.
“There were chocolate wrappers hidden in my car and elsewhere around the house as I comforted myself with sugar. It’s been a slow process and sometimes hard. It’s been like peeling back layers of self-sabotage. Trinity coaching as gently led me to self discovery. I know its a cliche but Trinity has actually transformed my life. I’ve lost 30kg, I joined to lose weight. What I didn’t expect was for my life to change quite so much and for the better. I have a fitness regime that I love. I feel strong mentally and physically. I’m not on a diet, I’ve changed my lifestyle.”
– Rachel Hillier (52), Trinity Client
Step 4: Move More (Without Overtraining)
If you’re stuck at a desk all day, you’re not alone. Many of our clients only do 2,000 steps a day when they first start. That low activity level means your body needs to eat less just to maintain weight, which often triggers cravings and frustration.
You don’t need 10,000 steps. But adding even 5,000 extra steps a day burns about 200 extra calories.
That’s enough to lose half a pound of fat every week, without changing anything else.
Walking is low-stress, joint-friendly and fits easily around your life.
And best of all, it supports fat loss in women over 40 without triggering the hormonal backlash that comes with high-intensity workouts.
Step 5: Improve Your Sleep Routine
Sleep affects your weight more than you think. Even one bad night reduces leptin (the hormone that tells you you’re full) and increases ghrelin (the one that tells you you’re hungry).
In one study from Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, people who slept 5 hours instead of 8 ate 300 more calories in a single sitting, which could add up to over 2 stone of weight gain a year.
Poor sleep also increases cortisol, which makes it harder to burn fat, especially around the middle.
We help our clients get better sleep by improving their hormone balance, reducing caffeine, optimising nutrition and creating a calming sleep environment.
That means fewer cravings, more energy, and faster results.
Even small improvements in sleep quality can reduce cravings and make fat loss easier. You’ll wake up with fewer cravings, better energy, and more motivation to stay on track.
Step 6: Build in Accountability
Willpower alone rarely works, especially when you’re tired, stressed, or juggling a million responsibilities. And it’s far too easy to quietly give up when no one’s watching.
That’s why our clients check in weekly with a coach who knows exactly what they’re going through.
It’s not about shame or guilt, it’s about guidance, support, and staying consistent even when life gets messy.
Don’t rely on family or friends for this. You need someone impartial who’s experienced in coaching women like you.
This one change is often the difference between giving up and finally succeeding.
“I was 15 stone and a size 18 to 20. I was very stressed and not feeling good about myself. The first challenge was sticking to the plan. Dave was great with setting manageable targets. The coaching calls were great in the early days in keeping me motivated. As the weight dropped off and the compliments started, it became easier. I really enjoyed seeing the progress in weights and reps. I’m now a size 12 having lost nearly 3 stone. I have a whole new wardrobe and people still comment on how good I look.”
– Alison Tennant (56), Trinity Client
How Trinity Helps Women Over 40 Drop 1–2 Dress Sizes in 12 Weeks
At Trinity, we don’t rely on injections or one-size-fits-all meal plans.
We’ve helped over 7,000 women drop 1–2 dress sizes (or 15–25 pounds) in just 12 weeks — with a 97% success rate — by creating personalised plans that work with your hormones, lifestyle and body.
This isn’t a fad or a quick fix. It’s a full lifestyle re-education that works long-term.
We help women:
- Understand how menopause affects weight gain
- Rebuild their metabolism with strength-based fitness
- Reset their diet and break unhealthy food patterns
- Get weekly support from an expert coach
- Join a supportive community of like-minded women
Weight loss injections gives you fast results — with side effects. We give you lasting results — with freedom.
Injections might suppress your appetite, but it won’t rebuild your metabolism or fix the root cause of menopause weight gain. We do. While others are turning to shortcuts, you’re building the habits to stay lean and fit for life.
