A new retrospective study from the Mayo Clinic and Wayne State University suggests that combining the weight-loss drug tirzepatide with menopausal hormone therapy may significantly enhance weight reduction in postmenopausal women. The findings highlight a potential strategy for addressing midlife weight gain among older women.

The study analyzed health data from 120 women, mostly White and in their 50s, who were using tirzepatide, a GLP-1-based medication sold under the brand names Zepbound and Mounjaro. Among them, 40 women were also taking menopausal hormone therapy, while 80 relied solely on tirzepatide. Participants were tracked for an average of 18 months to assess changes in body weight.

Results showed that women using both tirzepatide and hormone therapy lost an average of 19.2 percent of their starting body weight, compared to 14 percent among those on tirzepatide alone. The 5.2 percentage point difference was statistically significant, and a larger share of the combination group achieved 30 percent or more total body weight loss over 15 months.

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Lead researcher Regina Castaneda of the Mayo Clinic noted that the magnitude of the difference warrants further investigation into how the two treatments interact. Senior author and endocrinologist Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade suggested that women on hormone therapy may have adopted healthier habits or experienced relief from menopause symptoms—such as improved sleep—which could make it easier to adhere to lifestyle changes.

The study did not differentiate between types or doses of hormone therapy, a limitation acknowledged by the researchers. Despite this, the findings build on earlier 2024 research by some of the same investigators, which found similar benefits when menopausal hormone therapy was combined with another GLP-1 drug, semaglutide.

Researchers are now planning a randomized controlled trial to confirm these results and examine whether the combination therapy may also improve broader metabolic and cardiovascular health. If confirmed, the approach could offer a promising new option for postmenopausal women seeking effective weight management.

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