A study presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society found that women using menopause hormone therapy (MHT) alongside semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) experienced greater weight loss than those taking semaglutide alone.Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) combined with MHT showed only modest early differences in weight loss, with no statistically significant difference at later time points.Certain hormone therapy medications are FDA-approved to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but not for weight loss.Experts recommend individualizing treatment decisions based on symptoms, medical history, and health goals rather than adding MHT solely to enhance weight loss with GLP-1 medications.<\/p>\n
Weight gain is a common concern<\/a> among middle-aged women. While much of this is associated with aging, hormonal changes during menopause can also contribute to changes in body fat and its distribution.<\/p>\n GLP-1 medications have been shown to be effective for weight loss. However, the results may vary by sex and reproductive stage. <\/p>\n For example, studies have found that women<\/a> and adults under age 55<\/a> may experience greater weight loss with these medications.<\/p>\n A previous small observational study<\/a> in postmenopausal women found that using MHT alongside semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic<\/a> and Wegovy<\/a>, was associated with greater weight loss.<\/p>\n However, whether hormone therapy influences weight loss outcomes with different GLP-1 medications remains unclear. <\/p>\n To investigate this question, researchers compared weight loss in middle-aged women receiving either semaglutide or tirzepatide, with or without MHT. The findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.<\/p>\n The study included 3,855 women with an average age of 57 and an average body mass index (BMI)<\/a> of 36 kg\/m2. <\/p>\n The semaglutide cohort included 2,379 individuals, while the tirzepatide cohort included 1,476 individuals. <\/p>\n The average follow-up in the semaglutide cohort, both with and without MHT, was 26 months. The average follow-up in the tirzepatide group was 17 months for those using MHT<\/a> and 16 months for those not using it. <\/p>\n The researchers found that in the semaglutide cohort, those using MHT alongside the GLP-1 medication<\/a> had significantly greater weight loss at 9 months than those not using MHT. <\/p>\n These differences were sustained at 12 and 15 months and at the final follow-up. Those using MHT were also more likely to reach up to a 30% total body weight loss than those not using it. <\/p>\n In the tirzepatide cohort, those using MHT had a modestly greater weight loss at 3 months and were more likely to achieve more than 5% total body weight loss by the final follow-up. However, no significant difference in weight loss was observed at later time points. <\/p>\n These findings suggest that MHT use may be associated with greater weight loss among middle-aged women taking semaglutide. However, the researchers did not observe a sustained, statistically significant difference in weight loss among those taking tirzepatide.<\/p>\n Betul Hatipoglu<\/a>, MD, Director of the Diabetes and Obesity Center at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline that the findings are encouraging. <\/p>\n However, she also cautioned that people should be careful not to interpret them as evidence that hormone therapy should be added to GLP-1 treatment specifically to enhance weight loss.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an association, and the study provides an opportunity to discuss how menopause, aging, changes in body composition, and metabolic health can be present,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n