MenoTastic

World Obesity Day 2025: The Truth About Fat Stigma and Shaming As a doctor specialising in menopause and obesity, I've seen firsthand how fat stigma and fat shaming do more harm than good. With today marking World Obesity Day 2025 , it's the perfect moment to have a frank conversation about these issues, focusing on the UK. Let's get into the numbers, the nonsense, and what we can do to fix it. The UK's Expanding Waistline: A Look at the Numbers Let's start with some home truths about the UK's obesity crisis and where we're headed. Brace yourselves—it’s not a pretty picture: Currently, 28% of adults in England are obese, with an additional 36% overweight —nearly two-thirds of the population carrying excess weight. Among children, 22% of Year 6 children (ages 10-11) are obese, with another 14% overweight . Projected Figures for 2050 By 2050, a staggering 77% of adults in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are projected to be overweight or obese. For adults...

The 40s – Midlife Crisis or Midlife Awakening? You Decide! Welcome to your 40s, where you're either contemplating a flashy sports car purchase or realising that kale might actually be your new best mate! It's time to double down on those healthy habits—your future self will be chuffed to bits! What To Focus On:   Cardiovascular Health: Your ticker's been pumping away for four decades now—time to show it some proper love! Regular exercise isn't just about looking fit in your skinny jeans anymore; it's about keeping your heart in tip-top form! Interesting fact:   Regular physical activity can reduce your risk of heart and circulatory diseases by up to 35%.   Bone And Muscle Strength: Your body's starting to whisper about aches and pains; strength training isn't just for bodybuilders - it's your secret weapon against age-related muscle loss and osteoporosis!   Interesting fact:     Studies show that strength training exercises can increase bone density by...

Decades of Health: A little Guide to Your Life's Roadmap Life isn't just a journey for grown-ups—healthy habits start when you're knee-high to a grasshopper and evolve over time. Whether you're a parent raising a little one, a teen navigating the “those” years, or an adult plotting your health course, it's never too early (or too late) to invest in your wellbeing.  Ask yourself where are you on your timeline and is your health's timeline at the same place, worse or better than it should be for your associated phase of life? So, let's have a gander at the early years, shall we? Child Health – Growing Up with a Smile (0-11 Years) Before the world of responsibilities and "adulting" begins, childhood is all about growth, discovery, play, fun and social interactions. It's like building a health savings account – the more you put in now, the more you'll have to draw on later. What to Focus On : Balanced Nutrition: Encourage a variety of foods to...

I've now uploaded my first video about the menopause : "Vaginal oestrogen products in menopause - a practical guide". This video is a quick whizz through the commonest vaginal oestrogen products for treating the Genitourinary Syndrome of the Menopause. I explain how to use the products available from your doctor I hope this provides some practical information.

Menopause can sometimes feel like your thermostat has a mind of its own - suddenly, you're hosting an impromptu tropical party, even if it’s 10°C outside. Understanding the Physiology Behind Flushes Hot flushes occur when your body’s thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus - your internal thermostat - gets a little confused due to fluctuating oestrogen levels. Essentially, the drop in oestrogen causes the hypothalamus to mistakenly trigger a cooling response by widening your blood vessels to release heat. This leads to the sudden feeling of warmth, accompanied by sweating and sometimes a flushed face. The range at which you internal thermostat detects “hot” and “cold” also narrows which is why in part you can feel hot one minute and then not too much later, cold. I will address how this interferes with sleep in another post. Hot Flushes vs. Night Sweats While hot flushes and night sweats share similar physiological origins - both stemming from the body’s response to hormonal ch...

Menopause is like that uninvited guest who turns up at your house, throws the cushions on the floor, eats all your snacks, and then just sits there smirking while you try to figure out what’s going on. It brings with it a wide range of possible symptoms, but let’s be honest—sometimes it feels like it brings all of them at once. However, not every weird thing happening to your body is necessarily menopause’s fault (tempting as it is to blame it for everything from missing car keys to sudden road rage). So, how do you tell what’s really going on? Let’s dive in. Understanding the Stages of Menopause (A.K.A. The Joyride Through Hormonal Chaos) The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) defines the different stages of menopause, which is helpful to understand more about the journey you may be on or about to embark on. Premature Menopause:  When menopause crashes the party before the age of 40, often for medical, autoimmune, or genetic reasons. Full medical assessments ...