A new study presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, reveals that using tirzepatide—a medication approved for obesity treatment—together with menopause hormone therapy (MHT) results in significantly greater weight loss in postmenopausal women than using tirzepatide alone.
“This is the first evidence showing that combining tirzepatide with menopause hormone therapy substantially improves weight loss outcomes in postmenopausal women,” said Dr. Regina Castaneda, a research fellow in the Division of Endocrinology at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.
Similar results were previously observed with semaglutide, another obesity drug, which may indicate a promising new treatment trend.
Menopause brings hormonal changes that often lead to increased abdominal fat, reduced muscle mass, and decreased energy expenditure—factors that heighten the risk of obesity and related health problems such as cardiovascular disease.
To test the theory that MHT can enhance the effect of tirzepatide in postmenopausal women, researchers conducted a real-world study analyzing electronic health records of 120 postmenopausal women over an 18-month median period. The study compared 40 women taking both tirzepatide and MHT with 80 women using tirzepatide alone.
The results were notable:
Women using the combination therapy lost an average of 17% of their total body weight, compared to 14% in those using tirzepatide alone.
45% of women on the combined treatment achieved at least 20% total weight loss, compared to only 18% of women not using hormone therapy.
“These findings give us valuable insights into how we can create more personalized and effective weight management strategies for postmenopausal women,” said Dr. Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, assistant professor of medicine and endocrinology consultant at the Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Andrade emphasized the urgency of further research to understand the mechanisms behind the synergy between obesity medications and hormone therapy. This could lead to more tailored treatments and improve access to these options for millions of women dealing with menopause-related weight challenges.
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