Menopause
Oral GLP-1 shows significant weight loss in all menopause stages – study
The highest dose of an oral GLP-1 was linked to significant weight loss across menopause stages in post-hoc analyses of two late-stage trials.
The results suggest Foundayo may help women with obesity or overweight lose weight during premenopause, perimenopause and post-menopause.
Women taking the highest dose also saw reductions in waist circumference, a measure linked to abdominal fat and cardiometabolic risk.
Rachel Batterham, senior vice-president of medical innovation and external engagement at Lilly, said: “Menopause can be an incredibly frustrating time for many women, partly because weight gain often feels beyond their control, and the biology of menopause can undermine even the most determined efforts to manage weight.
“These findings show that Foundayo was associated with meaningful weight loss in women at every stage of menopause.
“For women who have seen their weight become harder to manage precisely when their health is more at risk, this is what progress could look like.”
The analyses were based on more than 1,500 female participants in the ATTAIN-1 and ATTAIN-2 clinical trials.
GLP-1 medicines mimic a hormone that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar. They are used in weight management and diabetes care.
Cardiometabolic risk means the likelihood of developing conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
The findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 86th Scientific Sessions.
Eli Lilly and Company said women taking the highest dose of Foundayo, the brand name for orforglipron, achieved significant weight loss at every stage of menopause.
Orforglipron is a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist. Unlike injectable GLP-1 medicines, it is taken as a tablet.
Menopause is the point at which menstrual periods have permanently stopped. Perimenopause is the transition before menopause, when hormone levels and periods can change.
The company said menopause can contribute to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, and may make weight loss harder to achieve and maintain.
In ATTAIN-1, women without diabetes who were premenopausal lost up to 12.8 per cent of their body weight after 72 weeks on the highest dose.
Women in perimenopause lost up to 14.4 per cent, while post-menopausal women lost up to 14.1 per cent.
This was equivalent to 28.0 lbs, 30.4 lbs and 28.2 lbs respectively.
At the highest dose, up to 51.5 per cent of women in ATTAIN-1 achieved at least 15 per cent weight loss.
Waist circumference fell by up to 4.9 inches in the trial.
In ATTAIN-2, which involved adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes, women also lost weight across menopause stages.
Premenopausal women lost up to 11.3 per cent of their body weight, perimenopausal women lost up to 8.9 per cent and post-menopausal women lost up to 13.6 per cent.
This was equivalent to 23.4 lbs, 18.5 lbs and 27.8 lbs respectively.
At the highest dose, up to 44.2 per cent of women in ATTAIN-2 achieved at least 15 per cent weight loss.
Waist circumference reductions reached up to 4.3 inches.
ATTAIN-1 was a 72-week phase 3 trial comparing three doses of Foundayo with placebo in adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, who did not have diabetes.
ATTAIN-2 was a 72-week phase 3 trial in adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes.
A placebo is an inactive treatment used for comparison in a clinical trial.
Both trials tested the drug alongside lifestyle measures, including diet and physical activity.
The analyses were post-hoc, meaning they looked at the data after the trial results had already been collected.
Post-hoc analyses can help identify patterns, but they are generally considered less definitive than findings from trials designed specifically to answer that question.
Foundayo is approved by the FDA in the US for adults with obesity, or some adults with overweight and weight-related medical problems, to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction alongside diet and physical activity.
The source material states that the drug should not be used with other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines and that it is not known whether it is safe and effective in children.
It also states that oral birth control pills may not work as well while taking Foundayo, and that healthcare professionals may recommend another form of contraception for 30 days after starting the drug and for 30 days after each dose increase.
Common side effects listed in the source material include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal pain, headache, swollen belly, tiredness, belching, heartburn, gas and hair loss.
The company said orforglipron is also being studied for type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis knee pain, hypertension, peripheral artery disease and stress urinary incontinence.
Apple announced menopause and perimenopause tracking for its Health app at WWDC 2026, with symptom logging and cycle alerts for some users.
The update expands the app’s cycle tracking beyond fertility and menstrual periods.
If logged cycle patterns suggest a user may be experiencing perimenopause, the app will send a notification prompting a conversation with a doctor.
However, this perimenopause-specific cycle deviation notification is only for users aged 40 and over and is not intended to replace a doctor’s diagnosis or treatment.
Stacey Ford, Apple’s vice-president of OS management, said users will also be able to log menopause and perimenopause symptoms in the Health app.
Educational content will also be available to help users learn more about these life stages and understand changes in their bodies.
Every year, about 2 million women enter perimenopause, the stage before menopause when levels of the hormone oestrogen decline.
According to a February 2025 survey involving 4,432 participants aged over 30, more than half of women aged 30 to 35 experienced moderate or severe perimenopause symptoms.
The findings suggest perimenopause does not affect only older adults.
About 6,000 women in the US enter menopause every day, according to the Society for Women’s Health Research.
Given the number of women affected by perimenopause and menopause, the update broadens the Health app’s scope.
The app launched in 2019, meaning it has gone seven years without these women’s health tracking features, which could help users better understand their bodies and prepare for informed conversations with doctors.
A new free menopause toolkit has been launched to help UK employers respond better to menopause at work, improve wellbeing and retain experienced staff.
Wellbeing of Women has launched MENO-Kit in partnership with Lancaster University, which it describes as the UK’s first evidence-based menopause workplace toolkit.
The online resource translates more than a decade of academic research into practical guidance for employers.
It is designed for managers, human resources and occupational health teams, equality, diversity and inclusion leads, trade unions and employees.
Its four modules cover menopause awareness, symptom management, menopause champion training and cognitive behavioural strategies.
These are techniques that help people spot and change thought or behaviour patterns that can make symptoms harder to manage.
Amanda Griffiths, emeritus professor of occupational health psychology at the University of Nottingham, said: “I am so pleased the Wellbeing of Women’s toolkit is now available.
“It presents the culmination of many years’ research by Claire Hardy, Myra Hunter and myself at our three universities.
“It’s a clear story: women represent nearly half the working population and menopause is a normal event in their lives.
“Those who experience difficulties appreciate understanding and support. And it’s not difficult to provide.
“I really hope that the next generation of working women, their colleagues and their managers will find the toolkit helpful.”
MENO-Kit was informed by research studies conducted by Lancaster University, the University of Nottingham and King’s College London.
This included the UK’s first large-scale study of women’s experience of menopause at work, carried out at the University of Nottingham, which identified fatigue, poor concentration, low mood and hot flushes as symptoms affecting working life.
It also highlighted the kinds of employer support working women said they would find helpful.
The toolkit has been tested in eight UK organisations across the public, private and charity sectors.
A total of 2,162 people, mostly women in their mid-40s and 50s, contributed across the studies.
The launch comes at a time of growing urgency for employers.
Research from McKinsey & Company highlights the economic opportunity of closing the women’s health gap, estimating it could unlock up to £11bn a year for the UK economy.
The NHS Confederation has also highlighted the economic case for investing in women’s health, linking better support to improved workforce retention and reduced pressure on employers and public services.
Alongside this, research has continued to show the impact of menopause at work.
Separate polling by Benenden Health found that 28 per cent of women had considered leaving work because of symptoms, while 31 per cent reported reduced productivity.
MENO-Kit has been developed to help organisations respond with practical, evidence-based tools that build confidence, reduce stigma, improve wellbeing and help retain experienced staff.
The launch is being marked by an online event featuring a keynote from the Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson, minister of state for employment, a live demonstration of MENO-Kit by Dr Abigail Morris, and a discussion on practical approaches to creating menopause-supportive workplaces.
Janet Lindsay, chief executive at Wellbeing of Women, said: “Too many women still struggle in silence during menopause at work, with many employers lacking the tools to respond effectively.
“MENO-Kit addresses this gap, offering practical, evidence-based ways for organisations to better support their people.
“It helps women stay working, thrive, and realise their potential at work.
“We’re hugely grateful to the research teams whose expertise has made this possible.”
Dr Abigail Morris, lecturer in workplace health and wellbeing at Lancaster University, said: “We’re delighted to launch Meno-Kit which represents an important step forward in supporting organisations across the UK to take a proactive and informed approach to menopause in the workplace.
“By providing practical tools, evidence-based guidance and a structured framework for action, the resource will help organisations develop effective menopause action plans, foster more inclusive and supportive workplace cultures, and better support women experiencing menopause to remain healthy, engaged and thriving at work.
“We believe Meno-Kit has the potential to drive meaningful organisational change while improving the everyday working lives and wellbeing of women across the UK workforce.”
Davina McCall, Wellbeing of Women ambassador, said: “Menopause shouldn’t be something women hide or struggle with alone at work or anywhere.
“It’s a normal life stage, not a personal failing.
“By talking about menopause openly and putting the right support in place, workplaces can make a huge difference to women’s wellbeing, confidence and careers enabling them to thrive at work.”
Women with primary infertility may face a higher risk of early menopause and reach it about a year earlier, a study suggests.
The findings suggest women with primary infertility may be more likely to enter menopause before the age of 45.
The increased risk appeared most notable among women with unexplained infertility or a history of endometriosis.
Dr Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society, said: “This study shows that women with primary infertility, specifically those with unexplained infertility or a history of endometriosis, were at risk for early menopause.
“Given that early menopause is linked to adverse long-term health consequences, these women may benefit from counselling that they are at risk of early menopause.
“This will allow them to monitor for early menopause and to seek treatment with hormone therapy, if indicated.”
Early menopause is usually defined as menopause before age 45, while premature menopause is menopause before age 40.
Women who experience menopause earlier may face symptoms for longer and have a higher risk of long-term health problems.
These can include cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and neurocognitive disorders. Osteoporosis weakens bones, while neurocognitive disorders affect memory, thinking or brain function.
The study, highlighted by The Menopause Society, involved nearly 700 people, roughly half of whom had been diagnosed with primary infertility.
It found that women with a history of primary infertility underwent natural menopause about one year earlier than those without such a history.
Researchers found no association between infertility and premature menopause.
Infertility affects around one in six people globally and can have consequences beyond family planning.
Previous research has linked infertility with higher rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease, although causes vary and may involve genetic, hormonal, in-utero or lifestyle factors.
In-utero factors are influences that occur while a baby is developing in the womb.
Earlier studies looking at links between infertility and early or premature menopause have produced mixed results, with some not accounting for different types of infertility.
The new study suggested that women with unexplained infertility or a history of endometriosis may have an increased risk of early menopause.
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body. It can cause pain, heavy periods and fertility problems.
Known risk factors for early or premature menopause include tobacco use, low body mass index, not having given birth and starting periods at a younger age.
Women who have had more childbirths and those with a history of oral contraceptive use have previously been linked to later menopause.
The researchers said women with primary infertility may benefit from additional counselling because of the systemic and long-term health effects of early menopause.
They also said women should be encouraged to seek evaluation and treatment if they experience a new loss of menstrual cycles.
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