The short answer
During menopause, fat tends to shift toward the abdomen and muscle mass declines, while risks of diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease rise. Chronic pain, poor sleep and some medicines common among veterans can add to weight gain. Strength training, protein, sleep and blood pressure, lipid and glucose checks help. Hormone therapy does not cause weight gain and may reduce belly fat; weight medicines are considered individually.
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What changes at menopause
- Fat shifts toward the abdomen
- Muscle mass and resting energy use decline
- LDL cholesterol often rises
- Insulin resistance can increase
- Bone loss speeds up for several years
Factors common after service
- Chronic pain or injuries that limit exercise
- Poor sleep from PTSD or night sweats
- Medicines such as some antidepressants, mood stabilizers and gabapentin
- Early menopause, which raises heart and bone risk
What helps
- Resistance training two or more days a week, adapted to injuries
- Protein at each meal
- Treating sleep problems
- Checking blood pressure, lipids, glucose and, when due, bone density
- Discussing weight medicines individually with a clinician
Keep the care you already have
Kindr does not have to replace your existing care. If you use VA, TRICARE, an employer plan or another provider, you can keep those relationships while Kindr focuses on menopause. Bring your medicine list, including anything VA-prescribed, so nothing is duplicated or conflicts.
Independent from the VA and DoD
Kindr Health is an independent healthcare company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense. VA and military health care benefits vary by individual. VA benefits do not pay for Kindr visits.
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Questions, answered
Common questions
Does HRT cause weight gain?
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No. Studies do not show hormone therapy causes weight gain, and it may reduce abdominal fat.
Should I have a bone density scan?
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Screening is recommended at 65, and earlier for women with risk factors such as early menopause or long-term steroid use.
WRITTEN & MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY
Kindr Health Clinical Team
Kindr Health Inc. — Editorial & Clinical Team, led by Kevin Wolfe, CMO
Kindr’s clinical content is written and reviewed by board-certified clinicians who prescribe hormone therapy every day across all 50 states — menopause-focused physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists working under Kindr Health, Inc.’s organizational clinical oversight. Every page is checked against current NAMS and ACOG guidance, FDA labeling, and the primary literature before publication, then re-reviewed on a rolling schedule when guidance changes.
Organizational NPI 1609792902 · Last reviewed October 5, 2026 · Editorial policy
Educational content only — not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
SOURCES & REFERENCES
Every clinical claim on this page is sourced.
- The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society (2022) — The Menopause Society. www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf
- VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Menopause (2026) — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. www.healthquality.va.gov
- Menopause — VA Women's Health. www.womenshealth.va.gov