Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

Ep. 534 The Hidden Forces Making Women Gain Weight – The Shocking Truth About Hormones, Trauma & GLP-1s | Hormones & Menopause with Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen

Dec 27, 2025

In this conversation, Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a board-certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine expert, dives into the complexities of obesity, highlighting its transgenerational effects and the influence of trauma and environment. She discusses the hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause, the critical need for strength training, and the role of GLP-1 medications in weight management. Dr. Salas-Whalen also emphasizes body positivity, educates on managing chemical exposures, and shares patient success stories with GLP-1 therapies.

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INSIGHT

Obesity Is Multifactorial And Transgenerational

Obesity is complex, chronic, and driven by genetics, transgenerational effects, trauma, and environment.
Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen emphasizes these factors are often outside patient control but shape lifelong risk.

ADVICE

Reduce Home Chemical Exposure

Educate patients about endocrine-disrupting chemicals and practical steps to reduce exposure at home.
Recommend avoiding plastics for heating, use steel water bottles, and choose higher-quality foods like grass-fed meat and wild fish.

INSIGHT

Perimenopause Drives Central Fat Gain

Midlife body-composition shifts result from hormonal fluctuations, sleep disruption, and muscle loss.
Estrogen changes move fat centrally and make maintaining muscle harder, altering metabolic health.

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Today, I’m thrilled to reconnect with Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a board-certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist with more than 15 years of clinical experience, widely recognized as one of the earliest adopters of GLP-1 therapies in the United States. She is also the author of the upcoming book Weightless: A Comprehensive Guide to the New Era of GLP-1 Medications.

In our discussion, we explore the transgenerational impact of obesity as a complex, chronic, and deeply multifactorial condition. We discuss the effects of environmental exposures and trauma, the essential role of education in overcoming weight-loss resistance and managing obesity, and the physiological changes women experience in the perimenopause-to-menopause transition. We explain the importance of body positivity and image, reframing our thoughts around obesity and being overweight, and why building and maintaining muscle is non-negotiable. We dive into the physiology of GLP-1 medications and specific targets for women in perimenopause and menopause, ways to address weight-loss stalls, and the effects of the weight bias so deeply entrenched in our society. Dr. Salas Whalen also shares her thoughts on alternatives and additions to GLP-1 therapies, clarifying the importance of protein and strength training while using GLP-1 drugs.

This conversation with Dr. Salas-Whalen is truly invaluable, and I highly recommend her upcoming book, Weightless.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

• What people come to understand about “normal eating” after starting GLP-1s

• How GLP-1s interrupt the binge–guilt–shame cycle

• The role GLP-1s play in helping people stay in control of food rather than letting food control them

• Strategies for avoiding side effects when using GLP-1 medications

• Why certain foods trigger problems on injection days

• Importance of proper guidance to prevent severe side effects

• The impact a prescriber’s guidance has on your success with GLP-1s

• Why treatment plans must be tailored to each patient’s needs and metabolism

• Factors doctors consider when deciding whether to add additional medications to a GLP-1 plan

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

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Check out Cynthia’s website
Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com
Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community (The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow)
Cynthia’s Menopause Gut Book is on presale now!
Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book
The Midlife Pause supplement line

Connect with Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen

Website
On social media: @drsalaswhalen
Dr. Rocio’s Book, Weightless - Pre-order now! (Releases 12-30-25)