I Changed My Mind About GLP-1s: What You Need to Know About Ozempic, HRT, and Longevity

Menopause Mastery | I Changed My Mind About GLP-1s: What You Need to Know About Ozempic, HRT, and Longevity | Ep. 294 solocast with Dr. Betty Murray 🌿Welcome to The Menopause Mastery Show! 👉 What if midlife weight gain isn't a failure of willpower—but a biological shift that requires a different strategy? In this episode of Menopause Mastery, Dr. Betty Murray is making a confession: She's changed my mind about GLP-1 medications. When medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide first exploded into mainstream culture, she was deeply skeptical—not because she doubted the underlying science, but because she was concerned about inappropriate prescribing, aggressive dosing, inadequate monitoring, and the lack of guidance around nutrition, protein, resistance training, and hormones. Now, with more research and clinical experience available, the conversation has changed. We explore what GLP-1 medications may do beyond weight loss, including their relationship with inflammation, insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular health, and metabolic health—and why the midlife context matters. We also dig into the potential role of combining GLP-1 therapy with hormone replacement therapy, the concerns around muscle loss and inadequate protein intake, why some clinicians are exploring lower-dose approaches, and what women should consider measuring before making decisions about metabolic health. Most importantly, this episode is about precision rather than quick fixes. Your scale isn't the only measure of health. Muscle strength, body composition, bone density, metabolic markers, inflammation, hormones, and long-term health span all belong in the conversation. Topics covered: 🔹 Why I changed my perspective on GLP-1 medications 🔹 What happens metabolically during perimenopause and menopause 🔹 GLP-1s and inflammation 🔹 GLP-1s, cardiovascular and kidney health 🔹 GLP-1s and hormone replacement therapy 🔹 Protein and resistance training during GLP-1 therapy 🔹 Concerns around muscle loss and aggressive dosing 🔹 Lower-dose and "microdosing" approaches 🔹 DEXA scans and metabolic testing 🔹 Building a muscle-centric approach to midlife health 🔹 Looking beyond the bathroom scale toward longevity and health span As always, the goal of Menopause Mastery is to help you better understand the science, recognize where the evidence is strong or still emerging, and stay informed about the future of women's health. For more evidence-based conversations about perimenopause, menopause, hormones, brain health, sexual health, and the research shaping women's health, don't forget to subscribe! ⁨@drbettymurray⁩ 00:00 — I changed my mind about GLP-1s 02:00 — The problem with the "Wild West" of GLP-1 prescribing 04:00 — What actually changes in your body during midlife 06:30 — GLP-1s are more than weight-loss drugs 09:00 — Inflammation, cardiovascular health, and kidney protection 11:00 — GLP-1s + HRT: Why the combination matters 14:00 — The problem with pushing doses higher 17:00 — What is "microdosing"? 20:00 — My own experience with GLP-1 medication 22:30 — A real-world midlife patient example 25:00 — Build the metabolic foundation first 28:00 — Muscle-centric medicine for midlife women 30:00 — Hormones, GLP-1s, and longevity 32:00 — Three questions to rethink your midlife health 33:15 — Final thoughts: Own your midlife mastery 📌 Connect with Dr. Betty Murray: Website: https://www.drbettymurray.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/ ✅ Let us know what you think! Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube: ⁨@drbettymurray⁩ 🔗 Links: The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/ Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ 🎙️ More from the Podcast: Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time. 🌿 #menopausemastery #menopausepodcast #drbettymurray #menopause #perimenopause #postmenopause #andropause #womenshealth #menopauseresearch #midlifehealth #glp1