After age 35, our hormones naturally begin to decline, marking the transition into perimenopause. And with this hormonal aging often comes a frustrating mix of symptoms: weight gain, brain fog, stress intolerance, and more.

Postpartum and overwhelmed, Emily Sadri, NP, began questioning everything she knew about blood sugar, hormones, and midlife metabolism. This piece shares the personal experience that reshaped her clinical approach—and why GLP-1 medications are about so much more than weight loss.

It’s not about willpower. If weight won’t budge, there’s likely something deeper going on. Here’s what might be standing in your way—and what you can do about it.