Menopause, Ageism & the Pressure to Stay Young | Ruchika Mehta | Ep. 7

Menopause changes a woman’s body, her sleep, her mind, her face. And yet, it remains one of the least discussed transitions in a woman’s life.In this episode of Menopause: It Was This All Along, Roshini Sanah Jaiswal sits down with Ruchika Mehta, a veteran editor and fashion and lifestyle voice, to talk about experiencing menopause in an industry that has long placed youth, beauty and perfection at the centre of how women are seen.From unexpected weight gain, bloating, puffiness and acidity to body image, ageing and the pressure to keep looking young, Ruchika speaks candidly about the changes she experienced, and the process of learning to accept her body rather than constantly fight it.The conversation also looks at why menopause education needs to extend beyond women themselves. Ruchika shares how openly discussing menopause with her son helped him understand the physical, mental and emotional changes she was experiencing.Roshini and Ruchika also unpack ageism, the fashion industry's obsession with youth, comparison between women, body image, weight training for bone health, HRT and menopause supplements, and the complicated relationship between wellness, longevity and our desire to resist ageing.At the heart of the conversation is a bigger question: What if ageing isn't something to defeat, but something to understand, and live well through?