Menopause, Diet, and Body Image

Your mom probably didn’t sit you down to explain hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, or why your metabolism doesn’t suddenly tank the second you hit menopause. That’s where we come in. In this episode of Your Diet Sucks, Zoë and Kylee dig into the messy, complicated, and very normal reality of perimenopause and menopause—because more than half the population will experience it, and yet nobody talks about it. We trace the wild history of “treatments” like leeches and arsenic, unpack the real science around carbs, protein, strength training, sleep, and HRT, and roast the diet-culture nonsense that convinces athletes to fear their own bodies.

From “menopause belly” panic to the myth that performance ends at 50, we’re breaking down what actually matters for athletes, what doesn’t, and how to navigate this transition without falling for the gimmicks. Consider this the talk your mom never gave you—and the one your Instagram feed definitely won’t.

References

Logue, D., Madigan, S.-M., Melin, A., Delahunt, E., Heinen, M., McDonnell, S.-J., & Corish, C. A. (2020). Low energy availability in athletes: An updated narrative review of prevalence, risk, within-day energy deficiency, knowledge and impact on sports performance. Nutrients, 12(3), 835. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12030835

Nazarpour, S., Simbar, M., Ramezani Tehrani, F., Alavi Majd, H., & Jafari, T. (2021). Body image dissatisfaction among postmenopausal women: Relationship with severity of menopausal symptoms. BMC Public Health, 21, 1859. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11643-0

Rossouw, J. E., Anderson, G. L., Prentice, R. L., LaCroix, A. Z., Kooperberg, C., Stefanick, M. L., … Writing Group for the Women’s Health Initiative Investigators. (2002). Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: Principal results from the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 288(3), 321–333. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.3.321

The North American Menopause Society. (2022). The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 29(7), 767–794. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002028

Vajda, R., Kopa, J., Nagy, T., & Petrekanits, M. (2022). Aging and possible benefits or negatives of lifelong endurance running: How master male athletes differ from young athletes and elderly sedentary? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13184. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013184

Vincent, C., Bodnaruc, A. M., Prud’homme, D., Olson, V., & Giroux, I. (2023). Associations between menopause and body image: A systematic review. Women’s Health, 19, 17455057231209536. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231209536

Wasserfurth, P., Palmowski, J., Hahn, A., & Krüger, K. (2020). Reasons for and consequences of low energy availability in athletes: A review. Sports Medicine – Open, 6, 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-00275-6

Williams, L., Hazzard, V. M., & Quick, V. (2024). Body image and eating issues in midlife: A narrative review. Maturitas, 181, 1–7.

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