Weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, thinning hair—tens of millions of women are dealing with these symptoms of poor thyroid function, and most  “are given no treatment or put on a thyroid medication that is ineffective for 98 percent of us,” says Amie Hornaman, DCN, CFMP, a leading functional medicine expert (who goes by Dr. Amie) and author of The Thyroid Fix.

Dr. Amie was once in that boat herself, bouncing from doctor to doctor, told she was fine while growing ever heavier and sicker. She doesn’t want anyone to have to fight as hard as she did to get better. So she’s on a mission to teach us how to recognize signs of thyroid dysfunction and advocate for ourselves. Which usually starts with getting on the right thyroid medication. “We all deserve to feel strong, energized and fully alive again,” she says.

Why the thyroid gland struggles in menopause 

The thyroid is a little gland in your neck that secretes hormones to regulate energy, heart rate, metabolism and more. It generally helps us thrive. The thyroid is powerful—yet, even before you add age-related changes to the mix, the gland is very sensitive to stress and toxins in modern life. 

On top of that, the shifts that happen during perimenopause and menopause further suppress the gland, putting older women at highest risk of thyroid disorders. Sometimes symptoms are blamed on changing hormones, other times symptoms can be sneaky. But most of us are impacted at some point. “In my experience, 85 to 90 percent of women have thyroid dysfunction after age 40,” Dr. Amie notes, backed by Journal of the Endocrine Society research.

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‘Doctors Told Me I Was Bipolar for 20 Years—It Was Actually My Thyroid'

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Thyroid problems may not show up on standard blood work

If you suspect a problem but blood work shows your thyroid hormone levels are normal, join the club. Dr. Amie says standard tests are flawed. Making matters worse, even with a diagnosis, 98 percent don’t get the right help.“By far the most effective treatment for thyroid issues is the right dose of the right thyroid hormone replacement medication,” says Dr. Amie. She says American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine findings show the standard med, called levothyroxine or Synthroid, does not work adequately for 98 percent of us.

New thyroid medication helped Lisa Snarr, 50, reclaim her life 

Lisa was still in her 20s when she was put on standard thyroid medication, synthetic T4 or Synthroid. Symptoms like extreme weight gain and fatigue persisted and eventually worsened. The toll was huge. “I was a walking zombie, and no matter how much I cut calories or worked out, I gained 10 pounds a month,” she recalls. It gradually impacted every area of her life. “My marriage, family life, work life—nothing was good.”

After a hysterectomy at 34, her weight issues became so bad, she had a gastric sleeve surgery. It worked briefly. “The surgery left me physically unable to overeat, yet I started gaining again anyway.” Despite being militant about diet, exercise, medication, supplements, she topped out near 300 pounds. 

Miserable and desperate, Lisa hopped from doctor to doctor until she found Dr. Amie. Together, they cut her T4 by more than half and added T3 medication. “My regular doctors refused to do it. Once I found Dr. Amie, I never looked back.” In weeks, “my energy and libido were back and weight was literally melting off me.” 

All told, Lisa is down 145 pounds “and I literally feel better than at any other point in my adult life. Adds the Idaho grandmother, 50: “I’m finally living life again!”

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Carly Scaduto, 43, was tired of feeling tired. She’d dealt with years of exhaustion that no physical exam or blood test could explain. Still, she refused to give up. After taking matters into her own hands and advocating for herself, she finally found answers in the form of a sneaky thyroid disease. Keep reading to […]

Ask for these thyroid tests

To kickstart your own thyroid transformation, this is what Dr. Amie wants you to know: Standard blood tests only check TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone, a measure that shows what your body is signaling, not what the thyroid is actually doing. “Ask for a full thyroid panel, including TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, plus TPO and TGA antibodies,” Dr. Amie says. No insurance? Walk-in labs like Quest Diagnostics charge $150 or less.

Signs you may need a new or better thyroid medication

Here are a few of the warning signs your panel may reveal:

• Low free T3: “Free T3 is the active thyroid hormone, the one that matters,” says Dr. Amie. Even ‘normal’ results can be too low to feel good. “‘Normal’ just means you’re alive. You want your free T3 level to be in the upper quadrant of the lab range or higher if that’s where you feel best.”
• High T4: T4 is an inactive form of thyroid hormone; it’s raised by levothyroxine/Synthroid. If you aren’t converting T4 to T3, it won’t help much. And too much T4 can trigger overproduction of a troublesome hormone called reverse T3, says the doc.
• High reverse T3: This hormone blocks thyroid function, slowing metabolism and hair growth to conserve your resources for healing. Ideally it only spikes after a serious injury or illness. But high T4, stress and nutrient deficiencies can make reverse T3 shoot up, causing you to feel lousy and hang on to fat.

There are many more factors to consider, of course. Read more on DrAmie.com or in her new book, The Thyroid Fix. Once you feel ready, talk to your doctor… or maybe find a new one.

How to find the right thyroid doctor

If your TSH is high, most doctors offer you Synthroid thyroid medication and little follow up, says Dr. Amie. This usually means no relief. More effective options? Usually synthetic T3 (liothyronine or Cytomel) or a natural desiccated thyroid (like Armour, made from animal thyroids with both T4 and T3). You’ll need a doctor willing to help find the right drug and dose.

Dr. Amie suggests doctor shopping. Before making an appointment, call the doctor’s office. Ask, “Does the doctor prescribe Armour thyroid and liothyronine? Does he or she personalize thyroid treatment?” Only go in if the answer is yes.

A functional medicine doctor like Dr. Amie is often a good bet. Though insurance may not fully pay, “instead of a 10-minute appointment, you get 60 to 90 minutes,” she says. And the right doctor can change everything.

On the right thyroid medication, results can come quickly

Everyone is different, and it’s wise to be patient. But as hormones build in your system, “fatigue and brain fog start to lift in 30 to 60 days,” she says. “At 60 days, you see the scale moving.” Hair regrowth takes up to a year. It’s all worth the wait.

“When your body starts working with you instead of against you, the feeling is indescribable,” says Dr. Amie. “I want every woman with a thyroid issue to experience that.”

This story originally appeared in the September 7, 2026 issue of Woman’s World

Social media is flooded with before-and-after photos of GLP-1 users showing sunken cheeks, hollow temples and sudden signs of aging, a set of changes now widely called “ozempic face.” Here is what plastic surgeons and dermatologists say is actually happening and what patients can do about it.

What is ozempic face and why are people talking about it?

Ozempic face is the nickname for the gaunt, aged appearance some people develop after rapid weight loss on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound. The look is not listed in patient information but has been recognized by surgeons as a predictable result of dropping significant weight quickly, and it is not confined to any single drug.

Use of these medications has exploded. GLP-1 prescriptions for overweight or obesity jumped 587 percent from 2019 to 2024, according to a recent study, and non-diabetic GLP-1 initiations rose about 700 percent over four years through 2023. KFF polling found 18% of U.S. adults have ever used a GLP-1, with 12 percent currently taking one as of late 2025.

How GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Are Creating a New Beauty Market for Skincare and Haircare

What does temporal wasting look like and how do you spot it?

Temporal wasting refers to the loss of volume in the temples, and it is the signature tell of ozempic face. Patients often sense that something has shifted in their appearance without being able to name what changed.

“A patient will come in and go, ‘Why do I look disturbed? Why do I look suddenly older? What is it about me?’ And one of the strongest characteristics of the ‘Ozempic face’ is the loss of volume in the temple,” Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow told USA TODAY.

Even a slight change in temple depth can make someone look older or even dehydrated, according to Dubrow. Volume loss in the malar and submalar areas, meaning the cheeks, typically follows, contributing to the hollow, drawn look that has gone viral online.

Why does rapid weight loss change the face this way?

The changes come from losing 35 or more pounds in a short period, often six months or less, which depletes the skin and body of essential nutrients and disrupts the endocrine and gastrointestinal balance.

“The skin thins, [and] loses its elasticity and luster from sudden and rapid depletion of the essential fatty acids that make up the skin barrier function. Its collagen and elastin metabolism is also disrupted, resulting further in sallow, dull, thin skin,” St. Louis plastic surgeon Michele Koo told Everyday Health.

The effect is not unique to any single medication. New York City plastic surgeon Dr. David Shafer told the same outlet that “as we age and when we lose weight, often we also lose weight in our face, leading to skin laxity. This is not anything specific to Ozempic. Any method of weight loss would lead to the same issue.”

How GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Are Creating a New Beauty Market for Skincare and Haircare

How can you prevent or reverse ozempic face?

The best prevention is losing weight gradually and following the prescribed dose schedule, according to Dubrow. Problems typically arise when patients escalate doses too quickly or source the drugs outside a doctor’s care.

“Don’t go too fast. Don’t try to go up in the dose too quickly. Do exactly what you’re supposed to do,” Dubrow told USA TODAY.

For skin that has already changed, over-the-counter options are limited. There is no OTC product that replaces lost facial volume, according to Kathleen C. Suozzi, associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Retinoids can help texture and the appearance of crepey skin, dermatologist Nazanin Saedi told Everyday Health, and Shafer recommends a medical-grade regimen with bioactive ingredients such as tretinoin. To restore lost volume, patients typically need clinical treatments like fillers, fat grafting or other volume-restoration procedures, ideally performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist familiar with GLP-1-related facial changes.

You’ve tried every natural remedy in the book to boost your metabolism: matcha, black coffee, apple cider vinegar. But there’s one thing so many of us tend to overlook: meditation. It turns out meditation isn’t just good for clearing your mind or calming your anxiety—it could be the metabolism boost your body has been looking for. We spoke to a top doctor about everything you need to know about meditation for weight loss and easy tricks to try if meditation hasn’t ever quite been “your thing.”

What is a healthy metabolism?

“Metabolism is the collection of chemical processes that allows the body to convert food and stored nutrients into energy,” explains Daniel Bishop, MD, a board-certified emergency medicine physician with 15 years of experience and co-founder and owner of ReGen Advanced Infusion & Wellness Center. “It powers everything from breathing and circulation to brain function, digestion, temperature regulation, movement and cellular repair.”

Despite how we often discuss it, a healthy metabolism is not just eating whatever you want without gaining weight. “A healthy metabolism means the body can efficiently produce, use and store energy, maintain stable blood sugar levels, respond appropriately to insulin, maintain muscle mass and adapt to changes in food intake, exercise, sleep and stress,” explains Dr. Bishop. “This adaptability is referred to as metabolic flexibility.”

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Does meditation for weight loss work? 

So if you drop everything you’re doing and enter a meditative state, will you suddenly supercharge a slow metabolism? Not quite, but the practice can support sustainable weight loss, especially when combined with a healthy diet and exercise routine. Dr. Bishop says that meditation helps our body go from the “fight or flight” state to the “rest and digest” state, allowing our metabolism to run more effectively. 

“[Meditation] may help regulate the stress response, improve sleep and support healthier eating decisions,” explains Dr. Bishop. “Those changes can create a more favorable environment for blood-sugar regulation, appetite control and weight management.”

The value of meditation for weight loss comes from the ways in which it helps improve our overall metabolic health over time by helping to regulate sleep, stress, appetite and even supporting mindful eating, adds Dr. Bishop.

In fact, a small study on a seven-day meditation retreat in Communications Biology suggests that regular meditation may be linked to increased glycolytic activity. Translation: Blood tests showed participants’ cells may have been using glucose more efficiently. They also showed changes in brain connectivity, suggesting that meditation’s shift from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest” may begin in the brain.

How to practice meditation for weight loss 

Practicing meditation can seem daunting at first. That’s why Dr. Bishop is offering three techniques that help take your body out of fight or flight mode and bring your stress levels down: 

• Mindfulness meditation: To practice mindfulness meditation, close your eyes and try bringing your attention to different parts of your body and noticing each part through a method called body scanning. This involves paying attention to the physical sensations of each body part—warmth, tension, etc—and simply accepting them for what they are in this moment without trying to change them. Work on incorporating slow-paced breathing from the diaphragm during this practice, says Dr. Bishop. 
• Box breathing: “Slow breathing at a rate of five to six breaths per minute can affect autonomic regulation and heart-rate variability relatively quickly,” explains Dr. Bishop. To try box breathing for yourself, inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, exhale for four, then pause for four before repeating the cycle.
• Senobi breathing: This form of meditation for weight loss can help with both nervous system regulation and support your body’s release of metabolism-supporting hormones,explains Dr. Bishop. “Senobi breathing involves engaging your core and stretching the abdominal muscles while forcefully exhaling,” he adds. To do: Stand tall, shoulder-width apart. Reach your arms overhead, interlace your fingers, then slightly arch your back while inhaling deeply through your nose. Tighten your glutes and core, then exhale through your mouth as if blowing through a straw; repeat. (Learn more about the power of Senobi breathing for weight loss.)

How often should you meditate? 

“A great starting goal is to practice meditation or mindfulness for five to 10 minutes per day, at least five days per week,” Dr. Bishop suggests. “If that becomes comfortable, it can be increased to 15 or 20 minutes. Ultimately, there is no universal ‘metabolic dose’ of meditation. Your timeline for results will be unique to you.”

Dr. Bishop says that if you experience dizziness, shortness of breath or have pain, you should stick to normal breathing. “People with significant heart, lung, balance or spinal conditions should discuss more intensive breathing or stretching exercises with a clinician,” he adds. 

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3 doctor-approved tips if you struggle to meditate

If giving this meditation for weight loss routine a try sounds good in theory, but not in practice with your busy life, Dr. Bishop has tips to help you get started.

• Start small: Dr. Bishop recommends building up your consistency first rather than your duration. “Two or three minutes every day is more useful and more attainable than attempting 30 minutes once and then quitting,” he says. 
• Add meditation to your normal routine: “Practice after brushing your teeth, before morning coffee, during a lunch break or immediately before bed,” says Dr. Bishop. Simply adding meditation to a behavior that’s already consistent in your routine will help you stick with it. 
• Know every session doesn’t have to be perfect: “A busy mind does not mean meditation was unsuccessful,” he says. “Meditation isn’t about completely emptying the mind. It is about noticing when you are distracted and returning your focus to the breath.” If you struggle to stay present in your meditation, a class or audio recording could be helpful, adds Dr. Bishop.  

The bottom line on meditation for weight loss

When it comes to boosting your metabolism or improving any area of your health, what matters is finding what works for you. So if other natural remedies for boosting your metabolism haven’t been working, tit may just mean you need to try something different, like meditation.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Doughnuts, chips and pizza, oh my! If constant thoughts of food get in the way of your health goals, natural GLP-1 can help. Yep, that’s the hormone artificially spiked by drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and retatrutide—but they aren’t the only way to increase levels. “It’s actually pretty easy to mimic the benefits of GLP-1 drugs without a prescription,” says Fred Pescatore, MD, a Columbia University-trained nutrition expert. He’s helping us explain some of the best natural strategies here. How well do they work? “I’m losing weight without a diet for the first time in my life,” says retired nurse Natalie Foeller, 64. “I’m just not hungry like I used to be!” 

What is GLP-1 exactly?

GLP-1 is a natural hormone released by the gut when you eat, and it’s kinda like a squad of riot police sent to keep appetite and blood sugar levels under control to protect your wellbeing. GLP-1 does its job by bullying other hormones, slowing digestion, even directly signaling the brain to quiet “food noise,” explains Dr. Pescatore, author of The A-List Diet.

Drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound contain synthetic GLP-1, giving you a bigger riot squad that patrols longer. But natural GLP-1 is still powerful on its own, and studies show that certain healthy lifestyle tweaks help your body make more of it. For many, it’s a perfect alternative to pricey drugs with scary potential side effects.

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Natalie swears by science-backed techniques like these:

Morning protein makes natural GLP-1 soar

When a  University of Cambridge team compared equal-calorie breakfasts, meals with the most protein sent GLP-1 soaring highest, and the effect held for four full hours. Separate research shows morning protein even cuts hunger well into the evening.

“Having cereal or toast for breakfast not only promotes a fattening blood sugar response, it means you miss one of your main chances to stimulate significant GLP-1 release,” says Dr. Pescatore. He gives a thumbs up to Natalie, who now gets 50 grams of protein from a daily morning shake made with protein powder and Greek yogurt.

Fiber drinks and gummies nearly double levels 

When soluble fiber ferments inside us, it activates GLP-1 in the intestinal lining. You can get the effect from fiber in chia seeds, oats and beans. But the best-researched option is called polydextrose. Getting at least 4 grams of this fiber supplement daily is linked to a 39 percent increase in GLP-1 production and 31 percent less hunger. Natalie gets polydextrose from a cherry-flavored drink mix (more details on that in a moment).

Polydextrose is also the main ingredient in Target’s Up & Up brand fiber gummies, with 5 grams of polydextrose per 17¢ serving.

Workouts that boost stamina and GLP-1

Exercise that increases endurance—like the deep-water boot camp classes Natalie loves—has been shown to gradually increase GLP-1 secretion. Why? One theory is that this type of exercise enhances gut sensitivity to nutrients that trigger the hormone’s release, says Dr. Pescatore. Good news: Dancing, cycling and even brisk walking all build endurance. Just pick an activity you’re likely to stick with, since consistency is key to GLP-1 benefits.

Ample sleep keeps natural GLP-1 high

Women saw GLP-1 levels plunge after nights they slept four hours compared to nights they dozed for nine hours, according to a study in the journal Sleep. Turns out, short sleep spikes stress hormones, which suppress the gut’s ability to release GLP-1.

Dr. Pescatore notes that adequate sleep also gives your body downtime to better regulate blood sugar, mimicking another key effect of GLP-1 medications. As for Natalie, the former night owl now prioritizes turning in early—so it’s no wonder she’s seeing so many GLP-1 benefits.

Maximizing your results using natural GLP-1 boosters

Does boosting GLP-1 mean you can eat unlimited junk and magically improve your metabolic health to get lean? No. But it can dramatically reduce the struggle many women feel when trying to stick with healthy lifestyle changes long term, says Dr. Pescatore.

To try the approach, aim for at least 30 grams of protein per meal, 20 grams of fiber per day, 150 minutes of exercise a week and eight hours of sleep each night. It’s similar to the routine that had a huge impact for Natalie.

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Natural GLP-1 success: Natalie Foeller, 64, lost 56 lbs

At this point 18 months ago, “food was on my mind all the time,” recalls the Ontario grandmother. “I didn’t know what it meant to not be thinking about food.” She’d gained 50 pounds since her 50th birthday and didn’t feel good in her body. Yet when she tried WeightWatchers and keto, she never got traction.

What changed? Natalie heard buzz about GLP-1 and a Slim Hunger Control drink (the polydextrose-based supplement is part of Plexus brand’s GLP-1 Support System kit, which she now uses regularly). She did research and got inspired. “I thought, I’m not going to count calories. I’m not going to worry about carbs. I’ll focus on being consistent with supplements, something I hadn’t been good at in the past. And I’ll really increase my protein and fiber,” she shares. 

She aimed for 150 grams of protein a day. Her go-to options? Protein shakes, cottage cheese bowls, grilled meat with veggies and potatoes. For snack, she loves Quest chips (“They have 20 grams of protein per serving!”). 

She saw impressive weight-loss results

A month later, down five pounds and chatting with girlfriends, “I remember saying, ‘I feel less interested in unhealthy foods.’” Her food noise just got quieter from there. “I can drive past McDonald’s or my husband can snack in front of me, and it has no effect,” she marvels. “It’s still a wild thing for me.” But she’s loving it.

Natalie is a year in, down 56 pounds and still losing. She can’t get over how good she feels. For years, extra pounds held her back. “Now I’m just so excited for life!” 

This story originally appeared in the August 24, 2026 issue of Woman’s World

Chrissy Metz the actress best known for her role in This Is Us, recently revealed she’s now using GLP-1 medication, and she’s speaking up about her decision and what is’ meant for her health. 

How Chrissy Metz is starting a new chapter with GLP-1s

This morning on the Today show, Metz shared that she’s partnering with Ro to use GLP-1 medication—a decision she didn’t make on a whim.

“I started a partnership with Ro. I’m so excited. Listen, I was very skeptical about GLP-1s for years. I was like, ‘I don’t know about all this,’” she shared, according to our sister site Us Weekly.

What changed her mind? A friend walked her through the science, and then some family health scares gave her a nudge to be proactive.

“Of course, in the meantime, there were some complications with my father’s health, and I was like, ‘Maybe I should try and get ahead of it,’” Metz explained. “It was just something that I thought would be good for me. It’s not for everybody. But it’s been really wonderful for me.”

She’s felt the difference most on stage—she’s currently playing Angélique in the Broadway musical & Juliet. “I can run around the stage eight shows a week on Broadway as a 45 [year-old] perimenopausal woman,” she said. “So, it’s really helped with inflammation, it’s helped with, just sort of, energy, just overall health, which is so nice. Really for me, it’s health now for health later. That’s the most important thing for me, longevity.”

She’s also careful to point out that the medication isn’t a magic fix. “It’s not the easy way out. I think a lot of people think, ‘Oh, it’s a magic wand.’ And no, in fact, you have to be more diligent,” she said. Her routine now includes strength training and mindful eating. “I’m an athlete now, you guys.”

The 2010 transformation that started it all

Long before GLP-1s were part of the conversation, Metz’s weight loss story captured headlines. In 2010, she lost 100 pounds in less than five months by following a 2,000-calorie diet and walking 20 minutes a day, as she once shared.

But the number on the scale was never the whole story. Metz has been remarkably open about the emotional roots of her relationship with food.

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A difficult childhood shaped her early relationship with food

In her 2018 memoir, This Is Me, Metz revealed she experienced physical and emotional abuse as a child, which shaped unhealthy habits and led to obesity. She was the youngest person in her Weight Watchers meetings at age 11.

She’s also spoken candidly about a painful dynamic with her stepfather. “My body seemed to offend him, but he couldn’t help but stare, especially when I was eating. He joked about putting a lock on the refrigerator,” she wrote, describing forced weigh-ins during her childhood.

Reflecting on those years during an October 22, 2024 episode of The Jamie Kern Lima Show, Metz spoke with compassion—for herself and for the adults who didn’t know better. “Maybe he was just fearful. I don’t really know,” she said. “Why does my weight equate my worthiness? And as a 12-year-old kid, it’s like, how do you reconcile that in your mind? It was devastating.”

“There’s so much stigma about weight. There’s this idea that you can’t put the food down or you’re lazy,” she added. “I’m trying to heal those wounds slowly but surely.”

The turning point 

Metz moved to Los Angeles in her early twenties to chase acting, but the roles didn’t come easily. Depression set in, and she gained more than 100 pounds. Then, on her 30th birthday, everything shifted.

“I had a full-blown panic attack in the theater,” Metz recalled. “That was a catalyst that changed my thinking. I stopped asking myself ‘Why wasn’t I more successful?’ and I realized I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do; I was doing everything for everyone else.”

That moment led her to seek help—and to look honestly at why food had become a way to cope. “I needed to understand why I’ve been hurting my body with food and all the things that come with that,” she told VeryWell Mind. “Which means all the past trauma and unresolved issues, all of that came bubbling to the surface at 30 years old.”

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What experts say about her original approach

Losing 20 pounds a month, as Metz did back in 2010, is not typical—and doctors caution against expecting similar results.

“Such rapid weight loss is not sustainable or safe for most people,” says Michael Koehler, MD, medical director at Affinity Whole Health. He recommends aiming for one to two pounds per week for lasting change.

“Rapid weight loss often results in muscle loss or other negative side effects, so I encourage my clients to focus on steady progress over speed,” adds Marlee Bruno, M.M.S., PA-C, founder of Mind Body & Soul Medical.

That said, the daily walking piece of Metz’s original routine is something doctors recommend to most people looking to lose weight. “It’s gentle on the joints, reduces stress and improves cardiovascular health,” Bruno explains. “Over time, small daily efforts like 20 minutes of walking can add up to big results—especially when combined with a balanced diet.”

Koehler agrees walking deserves more credit than it gets. “Walking is accessible as a low-impact exercise that requires no special equipment or gym membership.”

How Chrissy Metz uses self-love as the foundation for her weight loss 

Through every stage of her journey, Metz has made one thing clear: her health choices aren’t about fitting anyone else’s ideal.

“Whether or not I lose weight or stay the same, it’s purely a choice of mine for health,” she told TVLine. “Not because I think that plus size, curvy, voluptuous, big bodies aren’t attractive—because I think they’re awesome and sexy.”

Doing what’s right for her

When asked how she’d respond to anyone disappointed about her GLP-1 decision, Metz didn’t hesitate.

“I think that it’s so important to put yourself first,” she said. “As we age, sometimes we have health issues that we are concerned about, or want to get ahead of. That was certainly my case. I have to do what’s right for me.”

As Metz once put it: “I always say our bodies don’t define us—they just happen to be our vessels.”

Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

For years, the basic bathroom scale has ruled the worldwide weight-loss discussion like a tyrant. But it’s being dethroned for a comprehensive body-composition scan called DEXA, known as the gold standard for bone density tests. Sure, scales can tell us what we weigh, but what we really need to know is whether those pounds are fat worth shedding or muscle worth saving. And discovering exactly what you’re made of helps. This scan reveals where your fat is hidden, giving you a roadmap to your healthiest, strongest body. “A DEXA scan can serve as an important tool in a weight-loss journey,” explains Stanford-trained radiologist Mia Kazanjian, MD.

Just ask Nicole Yelland, 43, who discovered this game-changing approach at exactly the right moment. She’d been stress-eating her way through the pandemic. But one DEXA scan changed everything—revealing not just her weight, but exactly where she needed to focus. The result? She lost 60 pounds and trimmed 27 pounds of dangerous belly fat. Here’s how to use a simple DEXA scan for weight loss.

Why a DEXA scan for weight loss can be life changing

Nicole felt overworked and exhausted. Between work stress and family demands, she’d stopped taking care of herself. “I’d never stress-eaten in my life until COVID.” Suddenly she found herself snacking on Oreos and doomscrolling, waking up tired. “My health took a backseat.”

Then, at a silent auction, Nicole won a gym membership to Xceleration Fitness in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The prize came with a DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) test. The scan was painless. She lay on a table, while an imaging arm glided over her body, using X-rays to measure her visceral (hidden) fat, muscle and bone density.

When Nicole saw the color-coded results on paper, she was shocked. At 200 pounds, her body was almost 43 percent fat. “My poor heart, my poor lungs. No wonder I was out of breath. There was no muscle infrastructure supporting my major organs!”

She recalls, “That was a wake-up call. I wanted to see those numbers improve.” She realized, “The scale was a superficial tool. DEXA felt like something I could have a true conversation about with my doctor.”

The lifestyle changes that helped Nicole lose weight

Armed with her DEXA scan insights, Nicole made strategic changes to support her weight-loss journey and overall health. Here are the changes she made—and what you can try too:

Nutrition tweaks

The trainer at the gym took that data from the DEXA scan and told Nicole which macros to eat to reduce harmful visceral fat and build lean muscle mass. Before, Nicole’s approach was “less food, less calories, less weight.” This time it became: “How can I get more protein, more healthy carbs, more fat?” She used the free app NetDiary to track her intake, aiming to eat 120 to 140 grams of protein (about a palm-sized portion at each meal), 100 to 120 grams of carbs and 50 to 70 grams of fat daily.

What did Nicole eat during her weight-loss journey? She started each morning with 2 cups of “proffee” (coffee with chocolate protein powder). For breakfast she enjoyed grilled Ezekiel bread with butter and honey or eggs with toasted kale. For lunch she ate TikTok rainbow salad with peeled carrots and cucumbers, sesame seed oil, rice vinegar and soy sauce, topped with chicken and chili flakes. As for dinner: “A cheeseburger is the perfect macro meal: protein, carb, fat.”

She also found satisfying swaps: Instead of pasta, Nicole chose spaghetti squash with meatballs and cottage cheese whisked into marinara sauce.

Fitness focus

Three mornings a week, Nicole headed to her bootcamp-style gym for weight lifting and high-intensity interval training. Her DEXA body composition scan even guided her workouts. “I learned my left side was stronger than my right side. No wonder my back hurt.” So Nicole lifted five pounds heavier on her right to balance things out. She found, “I’m happier, sharper and smarter when I workout.”

In the process, Nicole’s strength grew. She started out not being able to do a single push-up. Now she can complete a full workout and run a seven-minute mile. Her weightlifting mantra: “Don’t be a baby. You can go heavier.” That tough-love approach to herself paid off when it came to her long-term health.

At 5’3”, now just 140 pounds, Nicole can deadlift more than her bodyweight: 185 pounds. Plus, she is teaching her kids about health. “My 7-year-old asked when she can come to weightlifting classes too!”

She lost 27 pounds of unhealthy belly fat

In six months, Nicole felt her energy and confidence soar, so much she started her own business, GRIT PR. In two years, she lost 60 pounds, switching from size 16 to 4. A follow-up DEXA scan revealed she’d lost 27 pounds of organ-stressing fat, dropping from 42.7 to 33.6 percent—from 137 square centimeters to 64.6 cm2.

At home one day, wearing a dress, Nicole recalls, “My underwear fell off!” More importantly: “I built muscle and cut my disease risk.” Her once-high cholesterol is perfect. She’s proud to be aging well: stronger and healthier. “I often get mistaken for being younger!”

How to get the most out of a DEXA scan for weight loss

Try to get it covered by insurance: DEXA scans are often available through many health centers and gyms. But ask your doctor if you can get one for bone mineral density (which is often covered by insurance.) If not, you can use HSA and FSA funds to cover an out-of-pocket DEXA scan for body composition. (Average cost is about $125.)

Use the same machines: Get a baseline DEXA scan, then an annual follow-up to chart your progress. Using the same machine can ensure the highest level of accuracy.

Track your progress at home: Many smart scales now have technology to measure body fat, muscle and bone at home. Try: RunStar Body Composition Scale for $50.

Make adjustments as needed: When reviewing your follow-up DEXA scan, if you see that you’ve primarily lost water or muscle rather than fat, “Add resistance training, a higher-protein diet and a workup for any underlying health issues,” Dr. Kazanjian advises.

Why DEXA scans give you a fuller health picture

The pounds on our body are not created equal. Some, like muscle, rev metabolism and boost longevity. And others, like deep belly fat, raise our risk of heart disease and fuel inflammation. So when we lose weight, it helps to ditch the right kind.

“The scale can make you think you are winning if the number is lower, when you are losing valuable muscle, which is essential for metabolic health and blood sugar management,” explains orthopedic surgeon Cory Calendine, MD, with the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee. That’s why many doctors prefer an in-office DEXA scan, which gives you much more detail.

Why losing fat matters more than losing weight

We know getting educated about our specific body composition improves health outcomes. In one BMC Public Health study, women who saw their scan results, in this case for their bone health, were more likely to implement behaviors that drove benefits, leading to annual increases in bone density. The same can work with body-fat insights.

“Chasing a lower number on the scale often forces women into relentless, self-defeating cycles of muscle loss and rebound weight gain,” says preventive medicine expert Michael Doney, MD. DEXA scans are a better gauge of your weight loss and better insights into your body composition. Even when the scale doesn’t move, DEXA results may reveal profound changes in fat loss or muscle growth. “These results completely reframe success from a focus on losing weight to promoting lifelong health.”

Ready to try it for yourself? Talk to your doctor or search “DEXA scan near me” to find body composition testing in your area.

This story originally appeared in the August 17, 2026, issue of Woman’s World.

You love the idea of GLP-1s like Ozempic—getting to accomplish your weight-loss goals and reap surprising bonus benefits you’ve heard about, like a lower Alzheimer’s disease risk and less sleep apnea.—all with a weekly injection or a quick daily pill. But if the potential side effects have been holding you back, we’ve got good news. Recent research out of Stanford suggests a hormone that naturally occurs in the body could do the same work of helping you lose weight without some of the most annoying GLP-1 drug side effects. We spoke to an expert about what this GLP-1 alternative is, how it works, when it might be available and what you can do while we wait. 

What is the GLP-1 alternative BRP?

“BRP, also known as BRINP2-related peptide, is a naturally occurring peptide, which means that BRP is a small group of amino acids,” explains Sadia Saeed, MD, physician and medical advisor with Welzo. “Research has shown that it exists in the cerebrospinal fluid found in the brain and spine. Initial research indicates that BRP can affect the way the brain processes hunger signals and fullness signals; however, much additional study is required to fully understand how BRP functions within the human body.”

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New research on the BRP peptide

You may be thinking: We already have GLP-1s to help us with weight loss and managing high blood sugar levels. What’s so special about BRP? New research gives the answer. In a Nature animal study, Stanford researchers found that when mice and minipigs were given BRP, they ate less, achieved body weight loss and lost body fat loss—all without some of the most common side effects associated with GLP-1s, including nausea and food aversion. The peptide, which researchers dubbed an anti-obesity peptide, reduced food intake. The results suggest it works through a different brain signaling pathway than GLP-1s.

“BRP appears to suppress appetite through a different brain signaling pathway from GLP-1,” explains Cuilan Li, MD, PhD, a women’s health specialist for JustAnswer. “The study found that its effects did not depend on the GLP-1 receptor, leptin or MC4R, which are involved in appetite and weight regulation. That different mechanism may help explain why the animals ate less without showing the same nausea or food aversion.”

Could BRP be used like Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs?

We get it. As exciting as this new research sounds, you’re really wondering if BRP can actually deliver the results of other weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, minus the queasiness. 

Dr. Li says it’s possible, but making BRP an accessible GLP-1 alternative could take a while. “BRP would need further preclinical research followed by carefully controlled human clinical trials to establish safety and effectiveness,” she says. “If human studies eventually show that BRP reduces appetite and weight without significant nausea, it could offer another option for people who cannot tolerate GLP-1 medications. Because it appears to work through a different pathway, it might eventually complement GLP-1 therapy rather than simply replace it.”

“The time required to establish that BRP will be an effective weight-loss therapy could potentially be as long as five years,” adds Dr. Saeed. “The reason this may be so lengthy is due to the requirement of conducting a large number of clinical trials in humans.”

And while we have a few years before this Ozempic alternative for weight loss might be made available, it demonstrates an exciting future for combatting obesity. “What makes BRP exciting is not simply that it reduced food intake, but that it appears to do so through a different biological pathway without the same nausea and food aversion seen in the animal comparison,” says Dr. Li. “If that translates to humans, it could give us another way to treat obesity.”

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Other natural GLP-1 alternatives 

Although both Dr. Saeed and Dr. Li say the unique health benefits of GLP-1s can’t be replicated with food or supplements, there are methods that can help you feel more full and combat cravings like popular weight-loss medications. Per Dr. Li, these types of natural GLP-1 alternatives to support weight loss include:

• Eating more protein and fiber: Protein-rich foods like poultry, eggs, Greek yogurt and tofu can help increase satiety for a longer amount of time, while fiber-rich foods like whole grains, beans, veggies and fruits boost fullness and slow digestion, says Dr. Li.
• Staying hydrated:  We can sometimes confuse thirst with hunger, and Dr. Li says staying hydrated helps avoid this issue. 
• Get enough sleep: Skipping out on getting enough sleep can increase cravings and hunger, but aiming for seven to nine hours a night can help, says Dr. Li.

The bottom line on GLP-1 alternatives like BRP

If GLP-1s work for you, they can be a great help in your health and weight-loss journey. But the same way every medication is not a great fit for every person, neither are GLP-1s. If you find they aren’t for you, talk to your doctor about other methods—including GLP-1 alternatives—to help you reach your goals. And give one (or more!) of our expert tips above a try, while knowing that new research continues to demonstrate new methods are on the horizon.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

As more people lose huge amounts of weight than ever before, it means millions of us are happier and healthier (yay!). It also means that lots of us are suddenly wondering how to tighten loose skin after weight loss. Great news for anyone who doesn’t want or can afford to go under the knife to fix the problem: “There are plenty of nonsurgical options that can make a big difference,” says Columbia University-trained nutrition expert Fred Pescatore, MD. Keep reading as he breaks down your best options.

How to tighten loose skin after weight loss: 4 proven methods 

The science behind loose skin after significant weight loss isn’t too complicated. Weight gain can cause skin proteins called collagen and elastin to become overstretched and damaged, which prevents skin from fully snapping back when you slim down. Think of a rubber band that loses its elasticity, explains Dr. Pescatore, author of The A-List Diet. Here’s what you can do about it.

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Firm and fill skin with new muscle

When Dr. Pescatore’s weight-loss patients want to firm loose skin, “my go-to recommendation is strength training,” he says. Building lean muscle mass basically helps fill the space created when we lose fat. And it also becomes a solid structure behind skin, giving it a firmer appearance. 

And that’s not all: a 2023 study published in Scientific Reports found that resistance training can reduce inflammatory factors that make sagging worse, leading to a mini-rejuvenation that includes improved overall skin elasticity and thickness.

Do you have to lift like Arnold Schwarzenegger? Nope! “It doesn’t have to be heavy weights, it just has to be consistent,” says Dr. Pescatore, who recommends at least two strength training sessions per week targeting all major muscle groups. Being stronger is great for overall health, “and, in my experience, it’s the best nonsurgical solution for loose skin.”

Eat to boost collagen production

While there’s no hope for an overstretched rubber band, your body can make new collagen to help restore damaged skin. But only if you do your part. Our systems cannot synthesize collagen without an adequate supply of amino acids from protein-rich foods. Recent research published in JPRAS Open found that getting enough protein is linked to enhanced skin healing, while skimping on protein leads to significantly worse skin outcomes. 

So how much is enough? Tightening skin is a form of healing, so you do want more protein than normal. “Try to eat one gram of protein for each pound you weigh,” suggests Dr. Pescatore. That’s 150 grams a day for a 150-pound woman. Once your skin improves, you can cut back to about half a gram for every pound you weigh.

Also key: Vitamin C supports collagen synthesis, so be sure to get several daily servings of C-rich fruit and veggies, such as berries, citrus, red bell pepper and broccoli.

Try a pine bark supplement 

Dr. Pescatore says pycnogenol—an antioxidant from the bark of certain pine trees—may be one of the most underrated tools for tightening loose skin after weight loss. 

A Skin Pharmacology and Physiology study found that taking 75 mg of the compound per day led to a 25 percent improvement in skin elasticity, a 21 percent increase in skin hydration, and a whopping 40 percent boost in collagen synthesis in women aged 55 to 68 after 12 weeks. Basically, the supplement helped switch on the body’s collagen-making machinery, says Dr. Pescatore.

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Consider microneedling to boost elastin production

Once we hit puberty, we barely make any new elastin, the protein that gives skin spring. The exception is when a wound is healing. Enter microneedling. 

“It’s a minimally invasive procedure where a small tool with tiny needles is used to make microscopic holes in the top layer of the skin,” explains Robert Schwarcz, MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York City. “This triggers the body to heal itself and make more collagen and elastin, which helps firm the skin and smooth and even out skin texture.”

A 2026 review in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery analyzed 41 studies and found microneedling consistently improved skin elasticity and firmness, with results continuing to develop for up to six months after treatment. Most people need three to four sessions spaced about a month apart, with minimal downtime, typically just a day or two of redness. Standard microneedling runs $100 to $600 per session—so it’s not cheap, but it’s much more affordable than other medical options.

The bottom line on tightening loose skin after weight loss

How much improvement you see from nonsurgical methods depends on factors like your age, genetics, how much weight you lost and how quickly you lost it. In some extreme cases, a surgical skin lift may be the best bet. But most of us can see a big difference using only nonsurgical techniques. “Use the strategies we’ve discussed and be patient,” says Dr. Pescatore. “For most people, tightening skin will absolutely happen.”  

What are the best smoothies for weight loss? It’s a question we’ve been asked a lot lately, and we weren’t 100 percent sure of the answer—so we went directly to nutrition experts to get the skinny. Over a dozen RDs and doctors weighed in, and we were blown away by how similar their answers all were. It was a cinch to put together a base best-smoothie-for-weight-loss recipe. We’re sharing optional extras for folks with different preferences and health issues, which means you can customize our basic smoothie to suit your body perfectly. It’s a sweet way to speed toward your goals!

First, here’s proof smoothies boost weight loss 

Smoothie King actually has “Hulk” smoothies formulated to aid in weight gain. (Hello, 120 grams of sugar!) Yet healthy smoothies can absolutely tip the scales in your favor. A 2024 study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion found that adults who sipped smoothies frequently over the course of two months were significantly more likely to lose weight than those who never consumed them. Smoothie drinkers also ended up eating more fruits and veggies and less processed food—two strategies strongly linked to long-term weight control and overall health. 

Built the right way, “a smoothie keeps you full, gives you steady energy and keeps insulin steady, which helps your body burn fat rather than store it,” says Coco Pierrel, a certified integrative nutritionist and founder of Eat Shed Glow. 

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Ingredients in the best smoothie recipes for weight loss

Swapping in a nutrient-dense smoothie for a low-nutrient processed meal is perhaps the most effective way to use the drinks as a tool to lose weight the fastest and healthiest way possible. Let’s go through optimal ingredients.

Start with a smart base

You’ll want to aim for about 4 to 8 oz. of any healthy option, such as unsweetened nut milk (unsweetened almond milk is a popular lower-calorie choice), water, ice—plus bonus points if you use green tea, hibiscus tea or coffee, all of which have proven weight-loss benefits. 

Why this matters: Staying well hydrated is proven to keep metabolism up, but not all liquid is a good choice. You want a low-sugar base, since options like sweetened nut milk, oat milk and fruit juice may spike blood sugar and promote weight gain, says Pierrel. 

What about regular milk? If it agrees with you, go for it! It’s a great source of calcium, and “calcium increases the feeling of fullness, improves fat metabolism and decreases fat absorption,” says Nutrition for Optimal Performance founder Theresa DeLorenzo, DCN, a nutrition professor at Russell Sage College.

Pick your protein

Add 1 to 2 scoops (at least 30 grams of protein), any variety that you like and that doesn’t cause tummy upset. Go for an unsweetened version or choose one with your favorite healthy zero-sugar sweetener.

Why this matters: During weight loss, dietary protein helps prevent our bodies from burning its own muscle when calorie intake drops. “Weight loss can include muscle, bone, energy and other losses,” cautions Ashley Koff, RD, advisor and nutrition expert for Maeva. “We only want fat loss.” Getting plenty of protein has been shown to protect metabolism-boosting muscle and promote greater fat loss.  

The nutrient is especially important for adults over age 50 who require more protein to get the same benefits as a younger person, adds Sean Arora, MD, medical director at Trimi.

Protein has also been shown to reduce hunger, and a University of Washington study found that when we emphasize protein, we eat about 450 fewer calories per day without worrying about portions. Wow!

Extend satiety with healthy fat

Toss ½ small avocado or 1 Tbs. unsweetened nut butter, hemp seeds  or coconut/MCT oil into the mix.

Why this matters: While you want to watch portions to avoid excess calories, fat can be key to making you feel satisfied and less likely to reach for junk between meals. The goal is to create a smoothie recipe for weight loss with just enough fat and other hunger-killing ingredients “to hold you for five hours,” says Pierrell. 

Sneak in fat-burning veggies and fruit

Add 2 to 3 handfuls of any nonstarchy option such as spinach, kale, frozen zucchini or cauliflower, plus about ½ cup fruit. “Frozen zucchini is one of my favorite ingredients because it creates a creamy texture with virtually no noticeable flavor,” says Kelli Morgan, RD, aka Veggiemomcooks on Instagram. 

Why this matters: Not only is it just plain good for you, produce is a super low-cal source of fat-fighting vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, says Theresa Link, RD, a nutrition expert with Virta Health. Polyphenol antioxidants in greens and berries are particularly powerful, with one study in BMC Medicine demonstrating that they help us to burn belly fat two to three times faster. 

Finish strong with fiber

Finally, mix in 1 to 2 Tbs chia seed or ground flaxseed.

Why this matters: Fiber is another ingredient that does so many good things for us, and it gives us a huge edge when it comes to weight loss. Experts say fiber triggers the release of short-chain fatty acids that do remarkable things inside us—like naturally increasing GLP-1, the same hormone targeted by Ozempic and Zepbound to quiet food noise and improve blood sugar levels. 

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These ‘boosters’ can make smoothies for weight loss even more powerful

Pierrel’s favorites include:

• 5 grams of creatine. Studies show it’s great for muscle and brain function in older women, and it can aid in weight loss too. “I encourage this one for every woman in perimenopause or menopause,” Pierrel says.
• 1 serving of collagen. This can help with skin, hair, nails and joints as it boosts fat burning.
• Spices and herbs. Choose cinnamon, ginger and/or turmeric. They all help lower blood sugar and reduce inflammation—a perfect choice if you struggle with diabetes or joint pain. 

Here’s your basic recipe for the best smoothie for weight loss

You can make it a little different every time!

Ingredients

• 4 to 8 oz. of any healthy liquid, such as unsweetened nut milk, water, ice, tea or coffee
• 1 to 2 scoops protein powder (enough to deliver at least 30 grams of protein)
• ½ small avocado or 1 Tbs. unsweetened nut butter, hemp hearts or coconut/MCT oil
• 2 to 3 handfuls of any nonstarchy option, such as spinach, kale, frozen zucchini or cauliflower
• ½ cup fruit
• 1 to 2 Tbs chia seed or ground flaxseed
• Optional boosters: 5 grams creatine; 1 serving collagen; cinnamon, ginger and/or turmeric to taste

Instructions

Blitz all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

The bottom line on the best smoothie recipes for weight loss

There are a zillion ways to make them, so experiment to find the ingredient combo that you love best. Once you’ve found a winner, sip often as part of a healthy eating plan. You can even have a smoothie in place of breakfast or lunch every day. Your body will thank you. And you’ll likely find your clothes getting looser too!

Fans know Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Camryn Manheim, 65, for her role as attorney Ellenor Frutt on The Practice and as Lieutenant Kate Dixon on Law & Order. But more recently, Manheim has been making headlines for her apparent weight loss as fans are comment on her recent  Instagram post “You look so beautiful!!!” and “You look incredible.” 

Rumors of the actress having undergone a major weight-loss transformation began circulating after photos of her attending the opening night of Rosie O’Donnell’s new one-woman show, Common Knowledge, were shared online. While Manheim hasn’t commented on her appearance, she’s well known for promoting body positivity years before the modern movement took off. So what exactly has she said, and what do experts want every woman to know about embracing their bodies at every age and stage of life? We have it all here.

How Camryn Manheim reclaimed language around weight loss and body image

As our society and cultural norms change, so do our ideas around language. One way this change happens is through reclaiming words that once had a negative connotation into words of power. Manheim has practiced this through her use of the word “fat.”

In 1998, while accepting the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in The Practice, Manheim closed her acceptance speech by proudly saying, “This is for all the fat girls.” Manheim also wrote a memoir titled Wake Up, I’m Fat!

“I think reclaiming ‘fat’ as a neutral descriptor, the way we might say ‘tall’ or ‘short’ is very powerful,” says Sarah Oreck, MD, MS, a Columbia University-trained psychiatrist focusing on women’s mental wellness with expertise in reproductive psychiatry and co-founder and president of Mavida Health. “That word has been weaponized against larger-bodied people—and women in particular—for generations, used to shrink us into apology and take up less space. Taking it back and stripping away all of that inherited moral judgment is women deciding on their own terms what their bodies are allowed to mean.”

Dr. Oreck cautions, though, that it’s important to keep in mind who is using the word. “It’s most powerful when a person chooses it for themselves, the way Manheim did,” adds Dr. Oreck. “It’s very different though when it’s imposed on someone before they’re ready, because so many of us are still carrying a lifetime of stigma around that word, which is exactly why it can cut so deep when it’s said about you rather than by you. The key is that it should be a person’s own choice, not a label that someone applied to them.”

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Manheim on the importance of body acceptance

In a 1999 interview with The New York Times, Manheim shared what she hopes people take away from her messages about weight. “My platform is not fat acceptance, it’s self-acceptance,” she said.

Self-acceptance is a core theme of the modern body positivity movement. “Body positivity means respecting and appreciating your body as it is, rather than measuring it against the narrow, culturally-defined ideal,” explains Dr. Oreck. “It centers on recognizing that self-worth isn’t conditional on size, and that shame tends to make lasting change harder, not easier.” 

“Self-acceptance is the foundation everything else is built on, and I’d argue it’s a radical act in a culture that has spent generations profiting off women’s insecurity,” adds Dr. Oreck. “Chasing a smaller or ‘better’ body as a prerequisite for feeling worthy keeps people trapped in a holding pattern because the goalposts move by design.”

3 tips for incorporating body positivity into your life

Whether you’re on a weight-loss journey or struggling with some other aspect of your appearance, there’s room to add body positivity every step of the way. Here are three expert-approved tips:

Think about how your body supports you

“One strategy I often recommend is shifting your attention from how your body looks to how it supports your life,” says Virginia Chow, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and founder and clinical director of Theraspace. “Instead of asking yourself, ‘How do I feel about the way I look today?’—which can change from day to day—try asking, ‘How did my body support me today?’ Maybe it allowed you to hug your grandchild, take a walk with a friend, recover from an illness or simply get through a challenging day. Research suggests that appreciating what our bodies do rather than constantly evaluating how they look is associated with a healthier body image and greater psychological wellbeing.”

Adjust your behavior 

“I love the DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) skill called ‘opposite action,’” says Suzanne Wallach, PsyD, LMFT, owner and clinical director of Suzanne Wallach & Associates and SoCal DBT. “Let’s say you are invited to a pool party, but you’re feeling a lot of anxiety about being in a bathing suit in front of others. You don’t like how your stomach looks or you’re worried about your cellulite, so you may have the urge or instinct to cancel your plans and just stay home. Opposite action encourages you to do the opposite of that urge. Instead of isolating and staying home, put on a bathing suit that makes you feel comfortable and as beautiful as is realistic for right now and go and connect with others. The reality is, no one is focused on your body as much as you are. How many times have you left a conversation with someone and thought, ‘Yeah, I loved hearing about her family vacation, but did you see her arms.’” 

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Listen to your body 

“Body positivity is as individual as one’s relationship with their own body,” says Elizabeth Wassenaar, MD, MS, CEDS-S, regional medical director at Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center. “I encourage my patients to be mindful about listening to their body and respecting what their body is telling them. For instance, in this moment, is your body tired of sitting? Are you thirsty? Do you need to stretch? We learn to ignore our body’s communication for so many reasons, and our body learns not to ask for what it needs. We can begin to repair our relationship with our body by receiving those messages and respecting our body. We can take it one step further by expressing gratitude to our body for the things it is doing for us in these moments.”

The bottom line on weight loss and body positivity

While many of us can think of things about ourselves we’d like to change or improve, body positivity reminds us not to forget to celebrate the bodies we have right now and all the ways they support us throughout our lives.