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EPISODE 1 · 8 MIN · OCT 13, 2026

#1 Why Women Lose Muscle Faster in Perimenopause

Can't lift what you used to, even though your labs look normal? Dr. Remina Panjwani breaks down a 2025 Deakin University study showing that muscle loss in women tracks with estrogen and progesterone, not age, and why it often speeds up around perimenopause and menopause. She covers why sarcopenia can start earlier than expected, what grip strength says about long-term health, and how protein and resistance training can help.


Source: Critchlow AJ, Hiam D, et al., "Profiling muscle mass, function and molecular signalling in females aged 18–80 years." Journal of Physiology / Deakin University, 2025. https://dro.deakin.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Profiling_muscle_mass_function_and_molecular_signalling_in_females_aged_18_80_years_and_their_associations_with_sex_hormones/30717020


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Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction: Why your muscle won't age like your mom's

00:53 - Your timeline vs. your mom's

02:13 - The 2025 study on women's muscle

03:26 - Estrogen's role in muscle repair

04:11 - Why sarcopenia can start earlier

04:46 - Normal labs and grip strength

05:43 - Protein, training, and muscle reserve

06:58 - What this research doesn't mean


Disclaimer: This show is medical education, not medical advice. I'm sharing general information to help you understand your body, and listening doesn't create a physician-patient relationship between us. Everyone is different, so please talk with your own physician before you make changes to your health care.