SustainMD offers a physician-guided weight loss program designed specifically for women navigating menopause and perimenopause. Dr. Allison Pope Barbee addresses the hormonal and metabolic changes that drive weight gain during this transition, helping patients restore balance and build a sustainable path toward better health.
Weight gain during menopause is not simply a matter of eating more or moving less. The hormonal shifts that accompany perimenopause and menopause create significant changes in how the body stores fat, regulates appetite, and processes energy.
As estrogen levels decline, the body becomes more prone to storing fat, particularly visceral fat around the abdomen. At the same time, insulin sensitivity often decreases, making it easier for the body to store fat and harder to lose it. Disrupted sleep, reduced muscle mass, and changes in cortisol and hunger hormones compound these effects.
The result is weight gain that does not respond well to the same diet and exercise strategies that worked in younger years. For many women, menopause is a time when the rules change entirely, and a more targeted, medically informed approach becomes necessary.
Declining Estrogen and Fat Distribution
Estrogen helps regulate where the body stores fat. As levels fall during menopause, fat storage shifts toward the abdomen, a change associated with increased metabolic risk and greater difficulty losing weight.
Many women develop or experience worsening insulin resistance during menopause. This means the body produces more insulin to manage blood sugar, promoting fat storage and making weight loss increasingly difficult.
Muscle Mass LossMuscle Mass Loss
Muscle tissue burns more calories at rest than fat tissue. The gradual loss of muscle mass that accompanies aging and accelerates during menopause slows the metabolism and reduces calorie-burning capacity.
Sleep Disruption and Cortisol
Hot flashes, night sweats, and hormonal fluctuations frequently disrupt sleep during menopause. Poor sleep increases cortisol and hunger hormones that promote fat storage and increase appetite, creating an additional metabolic challenge.
Your Care Journey
Step 1
Comprehensive Physician Consultation
Your journey begins with a detailed virtual consultation. Dr. Barbee reviews your menopausal transition, hormonal health history, metabolic markers, weight history, and symptoms to build a complete picture of your health.
Step 2
Metabolic and Hormonal Lab Evaluation
Lab testing assesses insulin sensitivity, blood sugar patterns, thyroid function, and other relevant markers. This information allows Dr. Barbee to identify the metabolic factors most relevant to your weight challenges.
Step 3
Personalized Weight Loss Plan
Your treatment plan is built around your individual hormonal and metabolic profile. It may include targeted nutrition strategies, physical activity recommendations, and medical therapies designed to work with your body's changes during menopause.
Step 4
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous glucose monitoring can be particularly valuable for menopausal women experiencing insulin resistance. This technology provides real-time data on how your body responds to food, stress, and daily habits.
Step 5
Ongoing Physician Support
Regular virtual visits allow Dr. Barbee to track your progress, adjust your treatment plan, and provide guidance as your metabolic health evolves.
Our physician-guided menopause weight loss approach may include:
Our menopause weight loss program is designed for women who:
When the underlying hormonal and metabolic factors are addressed, women in menopause often experience:
Program Fee
Initial Consultation
More effective weight loss, especially around the abdomen
Improved energy levels and reduced fatigue
Better blood sugar stability and reduced cravings
Improved sleep quality
Reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes or heart disease
Greater confidence in navigating this stage of life
Program Fee
Initial Consultation
Dr. Allison Pope Barbee, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician with advanced training in obesity medicine and metabolic health. She understands the unique metabolic challenges of menopause and builds treatment plans that reflect them.
Menopause is not just a hormonal event. It is a full metabolic transition. SustainMD’s approach addresses the interplay between hormones, metabolism, sleep, and lifestyle to produce results that last.
Expert menopause metabolic care is available from wherever you are without the need to travel to a clinic.
SustainMD provides telehealth services for patients located in
Patients can access physician guided weight loss care through secure virtual visits.
Patient12
Dr. Barbee listens to your concerns, is empathetic and knowledgable. Not once has she made me feel ashamed or less than. She gives practical, reasonable and most importantly, doable recommendations. She uses lifestyle interventions instead of immediately jumping to medications, but will also use medications if you and she believe
Patient11
Dr. Barbee has been a remarkable weight loss physician for me. She distinguished herself by customizing her approach to suit my individual needs. Throughout our sessions, she was incredibly attentive, understanding my specific health concerns and weight loss goals. Dr. Barbee excelled in explaining the details of the medications she
Patient10
Dr. Barbee is an extremely knowledgeable physician who I rely on with all my medical needs. Her bedside manner is impeccable and very friendly. She listens to all of my issues and gets to the bottom of any problem you may have. I honestly cannot say enough good things about
Patient9
Dr Barbee actually listened to me and was able to diagnose my symptoms and actually treat and control the issue. I can not thank her enough! She was super patient and kind. Something you don’t really see now a days.
A.M.
Dr. Barbee understands that health is not one-size-fits-all. She takes the time to listen, remembers details, and works collaboratively with me as things evolve. The most meaningful part of working with her is feeling truly heard and supported, not just during appointments but overall in my care.
Andrea
The best! I have been a patient of Dr. Barbee’s for years! She has guided and treated me in my worst and best days. Her professionalism is top notch, along with her knowledge of health. You cannot ask for any better care than Dr. Barbee!
Suzanne Layser
Truly a compassionate Doctor- I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Barbee. I felt truly cared for. Dr. Barbee was incredibly compassionate, took the time to really listen, and never made me feel rushed. She asked thoughtful questions and genuinely wanted to understand what I was experiencing. What impressed
Patient8
Dr. Barbee is an extremely knowledgeable physician who I rely on with all my medical needs. Her bedside manner is impeccable and very friendly. She listens to all of my issues and gets to the bottom of any problem you may have. I honestly cannot say enough good things about
Patient7
Great doctor- Dr. Barbee is a kind and caring doctor. She is the type of person you can talk to and really will listen. She understands your problems and will work with you to solve them. She is very thorough and make sure everything is looked at does not miss
Patient6
Thoughtful, caring and truly helpful-I have been a patient of Dr. Barbee for many years. I have always found her honest and helpful. She works hard to look at root causes, which can take a while to figure out. She is persistent, yet kind. As we age, our bodies change.
Hormonal changes during menopause alter how your body stores fat and processes insulin. These shifts mean your body responds differently to food and activity than it did before, often requiring a different strategy to manage weight effectively.
Yes. Improving insulin sensitivity through medical treatment, nutrition, and lifestyle changes can help reduce fat storage and support more effective weight loss during menopause.
Some medications may be appropriate depending on your health profile. Dr. Barbee will evaluate your full medical history and metabolic markers before recommending any medical therapy.
No. Women in perimenopause, the transitional period before menopause, experience many of the same metabolic changes and can benefit equally from this program.
SustainMD’s menopause weight loss program focuses on metabolic health, nutrition, and lifestyle rather than hormone replacement therapy. The two approaches are not mutually exclusive, and Dr. Barbee can discuss how they may complement each other based on your situation.
Many women are told that weight gain during menopause is simply part of aging. But the metabolic changes driving that weight gain are treatable, and with the right support, meaningful improvements are achievable.
SustainMD is here to help you understand what is happening in your body and build a plan that addresses it effectively.
Physician Credentials
Care is provided by Dr. Allison Pope Barbee, MD, a board certified family medicine physician with advanced training in obesity medicine and metabolic health.
Educational Disclaimer
Information on this page is provided for educational purposes and should not replace medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Not Emergency Care
SustainMD telehealth services are not intended for emergency medical situations.
Privacy and Security
All virtual visits are conducted using secure, HIPAA compliant telehealth platforms to protect patient privacy.
Take the first step towards a healthier, happier you. Whether you’re interested in our comprehensive medical weight loss program, our dedicated obesity management services, or our revolutionary direct primary care model, SustainMD is here to help.
