Why Menopause and Diet Culture Are BFFs (But Maybe Shouldn’t Be)

Ever notice how the moment menopause gets a mention, the conversation instantly shifts to your waistline? You're not imagining things. As Cole Kazdin highlights in a compelling Time article titled Why Does Menopause Treatment Always Include a Diet?, the dreaded weight gain symptom during perimenopause often becomes the uninvited center of attention — and the first 'problem' women try to fix.

But… why? Why does menopause treatment always sidestep deeper hormonal truths to focus on telling women to eat less and move more? And don’t get me wrong — nutrition is important, but when does it cross the line into body policing, or worse, exacerbate stress and disordered eating?

The Menopausal Weight Gain Myth: Fact or Fiction?

When perimenopause hits, hormonal rollercoasters are real: fluctuating estrogen levels can mess with metabolism, fat distribution, and even appetite regulation. That much is science. But blaming menopause for all weight gain is like blaming your phone when your Wi-Fi cuts out — true sometimes, but not the whole story.

The problem is, diet culture swoops in to transform a complex biological process into a moral failure narrative: “You gained weight? You must be eating wrong.” Cue shame, frustration, and often, a downward spiral of restrictive dieting.

The Hidden Cost of the ‘Diet First’ Mentality

Kazdin’s essay brilliantly points out that this persistent diet focus can unintentionally fuel eating disorders, especially in midlife women who thought they’d escaped such struggles. It’s a vicious cycle:

Spot the weight gain
Obsess over fixing it with diets
Grow more anxious about eating
End up with unhealthy relationships with food

And for anyone on a fertility journey — where hormones are already playing tricks — this diet pressure can be an emotional minefield. Imagine juggling the stress of trying to conceive while also battling internalized diet culture voices telling you to control your body at all costs.

So, What’s the Alternative? A More Compassionate Lens

If weight is just one piece of the puzzle, why not focus on overall wellness instead? Nutrition that nurtures your changing body, movement that feels good (not punishment), and mental health support that acknowledges how emotionally charged this phase is.

This is exactly the kind of holistic approach we champion here at FamilyFoundry, where we believe fertility and family-building journeys deserve compassion, science, and empowerment — free from judgment or one-size-fits-all “solutions.”

Speaking of Empowerment and Choices...

For those exploring alternative routes to pregnancy — whether you’re navigating fertility challenges or embracing new family-building methods — having accessible, reliable tools matters. Enter MakeAMom and their clever at-home insemination kits tailored to diverse needs: from low motility sperm to sensitivity issues like vaginismus.

The beauty? These kits give people control and privacy without sacrificing success rates (hello, 67% average!). And the discreet packaging means you can focus on your journey without unnecessary stress.

Here’s What You Should Take Away:

Menopause weight gain is real but not the end-all, be-all of your health story.
Diet culture’s obsession with “fixing” bodies can do more harm than good, especially during such vulnerable transitions.
A holistic approach — mind, body, and emotional wellness — is key.
Empowerment in fertility shouldn’t be limited to clinics; tools like MakeAMom’s kits offer innovative, accessible options for growing families.

Before You Go...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the constant diet chatter around menopause? Or maybe you’ve tried home insemination and want to share your story? Drop your thoughts below — let’s turn this conversation into a supportive community, not a diet-annihilation contest.

And if you want to dive deeper into why diet culture and menopause are such an odd couple — and what that means for your wellbeing — don’t miss the original Time article by Cole Kazdin. It’s eye-opening and essential reading!

Here’s to loving our bodies, trusting our journeys, and building families on our terms. What’s your take? Let’s chat in the comments!