Doctor's Journey: From Obesity to Wellness

Facing a Wake-Up Call

A doctor and nutritionist recounts her personal struggle with weight gain during menopause and the surprising path to health she discovered, inspired by Japanese traditions, particularly the benefits of bone broth. The turning point came in 2020 when she realized none of her clothes fit while preparing for a meeting in London.

A trip to Harrods resulted in purchasing a larger jacket to conceal the issue, revealing she now wore a size 22. Simultaneously, she received a diagnosis of high blood pressure, and a cardiologist bluntly described her to her GP as an ‘obese 60-year-old woman.’

The Irony of Expertise

The term was mortifying, yet undeniably accurate. She felt bloated, exhausted, and overwhelmed by the effects of menopause. A stark realization emerged: inaction would lead to a premature death.

This was particularly ironic given her 30-year career dedicated to helping others achieve health. As a doctor, nutritionist, author, and columnist, she possessed the knowledge, yet had gained four stone in weight. Shame and confusion consumed her.

Unraveling the Root Causes

She believed she was eating sparingly, but the weight stubbornly remained. Hormonal shifts during menopause, stress, and elevated cortisol levels played a role, but primarily it was a lack of physical activity and poor timing of meals.

Working over 80 hours weekly as a doctor and writer provided endless excuses to avoid exercise. Breakfast was often skipped, while late-night eating became a habit, despite knowing its detrimental effects. Her lifestyle was spiraling out of control.

Personal and Professional Toll

Around this time, she stopped seeing patients individually, feeling like a hypocrite offering dietary advice while being classified as obese. She retreated to writing to sustain income, as she was the primary breadwinner.

Simultaneously, her marriage of nearly 25 years was dissolving, though she initially resisted acknowledging it. Communication had dwindled, her sex drive vanished, and her once vibrant personality faded. In 2021, she discovered her husband’s infidelity, a devastating revelation.

Understanding Menopause and Weight

This scenario resonates with many high-achieving women in midlife, who experience weight gain during menopause while juggling demanding careers and family responsibilities. Menopause causes a decline in estrogen and progesterone, altering fat storage from hips and thighs to the abdomen.

Visceral fat, accumulating around the abdominal organs, is metabolically active and poses greater health risks. This makes weight loss significantly harder, even with diet and exercise. She realized willpower wasn’t the problem; it was biology.

Finding Inspiration in Japan

To succeed, she needed to work with her body, not against it. Her approach began with researching cultures known for their health. Japan immediately stood out, with an obesity rate of around 5 percent, compared to roughly 25 percent in the UK.

Despite long working hours and limited gym time, they maintained a healthier lifestyle. This led her to explore their dietary habits, specifically the prevalence of broths in Japanese cuisine. For centuries, broths have formed the foundation of many dishes, from miso soup to stews and noodle soups.

The Power of Bone Broth

Bone broth is a common element in almost every meal. She decided to emulate this tradition, starting in early 2021 by drinking bone broth daily. She began by freezing leftover chicken bones from roasts and simmering them with herbs and vegetables, recreating her grandmother’s recipe.

She found it incredibly satisfying. The broth was rich in gelatin, solidifying when cooled. She consumed it in the morning and at lunchtime, dubbing it the ‘holy grail’ for its numerous benefits. Bone broth is naturally rich in collagen, essential for tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bones, blood vessels, skin, and the gut.

This is particularly relevant for midlife women, as collagen levels can decline by up to 30 percent in the first five years after menopause, leading to loss of skin resilience, elasticity, and hydration. Studies show collagen supplementation can reduce wrinkle scores and improve skin elasticity and hydration.