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I am grateful to share that I was recently featured in a Lose It! article titled Can Taking GLP-1 Help Women With Middle-Age Weight Gain? This topic is close to my heart because so many women over 40 are trying to understand what is happening with their bodies during midlife, especially when weight gain feels harder to manage than it used to.
I would like to thank Kaitlin Ahern and the Lose It! team for including my perspective in this important conversation about GLP-1 medications, midlife weight gain, and women’s health after 40.
As a nurse practitioner, holistic nutrition weight loss coach, and a woman who has personally walked through a long weight loss journey, I know this conversation is bigger than the medication itself. GLP-1 medications can be helpful tools for some people, but they are not the whole plan. Women still need education, support, nutrition guidance, mindset work, and realistic lifestyle strategies that fit their actual lives.
For many women in midlife, weight gain is not just about “eating too much” or “not exercising enough.” Hormonal changes, stress, poor sleep, muscle loss, insulin resistance, emotional eating, caregiving demands, busy work schedules, and years of dieting can all play a role. That is why I believe women deserve more than a prescription. They deserve a plan.
GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or in adults who are overweight with certain weight-related conditions, and they are intended to be used along with nutrition and physical activity strategies. But even when the medication helps reduce appetite or cravings, women still need to learn how to nourish their bodies, preserve muscle, manage side effects, and build habits they can continue long term.
That is the heart behind my work at Ample Health & Wellness. Through my FRESH Framework, I help women focus on food freedom, mindset, habits, environment, and whole-person health. The goal is not just to lose weight while taking medication. The goal is to understand your body, protect your health, and build a lifestyle that supports you during and after the medication journey.
One of the biggest concerns I hear from women is, “What happens if I stop the medication?” That question matters. While every woman’s situation is different, the foundation of long-term weight management still includes consistent nutrition, movement, stress management, sleep, and self-awareness. A 2025 joint advisory from major nutrition, lifestyle, and obesity organizations emphasized that nutrition and lifestyle strategies are important alongside GLP-1 therapy, especially for managing side effects, supporting nutritional intake, and improving long-term outcomes.
This is why I encourage women not to see GLP-1 medications as a shortcut or a failure. They can be part of a comprehensive care plan when used appropriately and under medical supervision. But the medication should not replace the deeper work of learning your patterns, creating supportive routines, and understanding what your body needs in this season of life.
I appreciate Lose It! for including my perspective in this important conversation. Midlife women deserve honest, balanced information about weight loss medications without shame, hype, or fear-based messaging. Whether a woman is considering GLP-1 medication, currently taking it, or trying to maintain her results after stopping, she deserves support that looks at the whole person.
Read the full Lose It! article here:
At Ample Health & Wellness, my mission is to help women over 40 stop chasing quick fixes and start building sustainable weight loss strategies that support real life. If you are navigating midlife weight gain, GLP-1 medications, emotional eating, or the fear of regaining weight, know this: your body is not broken, and you do not have to figure it out alone.
Learn more about Ample Health & Wellness:
About the Author: Dr. Kisha Pickford, DNP, is a board-certified nurse practitioner and holistic nutrition weight loss coach at Ample Health & Wellness. She helps women over 40 achieve sustainable weight loss and whole-body wellness through holistic, evidence-based coaching.
📚References
American College of Cardiology. (2025). Nutritional and lifestyle strategies support GLP-1 obesity treatment.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2024). FDA approves first treatment to reduce risk of serious heart problems specifically in adults with obesity or overweight.
Obesity Medicine Association. (2026). Top weight loss medications.