New Hormone Linked to Weight Stability in Postmenopausal Women

Asprosin levels may help track and treat weight changes after menopause

Mar. 11, 2026 at 5:48am

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Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have identified how the hormone asprosin influences long-term weight change among postmenopausal women in the United States. The findings suggest that the fasting-induced hormone may play a significant role in shaping body composition and long-term weight stability, offering a promising target for tailored obesity prevention strategies.

Why it matters

Weight gain after menopause is a major contributor to increased cardiometabolic risk, including type 2 diabetes, yet the biological drivers of long-term weight trajectories remain poorly understood. This research provides new insights into how a specific hormone may help maintain weight stability in postmenopausal women with healthy metabolisms.

The details

The research team analyzed data from more than 4,000 postmenopausal women participating in the landmark Women's Health Initiative. They found that among women without obesity or diabetes, those with the highest asprosin levels gained significantly less weight over three years than those with the lowest levels. These women were 43% less likely to experience major weight gain and 83% more likely to achieve major weight loss, though some weight loss was attributable to reductions in lean body mass.

  • The data was collected between September 1, 1993 and December 31, 1998.
  • The researchers tracked changes in body weight, fat accumulation and lean body mass over three years.

The players

Simin Liu

Chair and distinguished professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, and director of UC Irvine's Center for Global Cardiometabolic Health & Nutrition.

University of California, Irvine

A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report.

Women's Health Initiative

A long-running national study of women ages 50 to 79 enrolled at 40 clinical centers across the country.

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What they’re saying

“Our findings show that asprosin may help us track and potentially treat weight changes in postmenopausal women. Understanding the hormonal factors that influence weight after menopause may help us develop more precise strategies for lifestyle management or pharmacologic interventions that prevent obesity and related metabolic disorders while preserving healthy muscle mass.”

— Simin Liu, Chair and distinguished professor of epidemiology and biostatistics

What’s next

Further research is needed to evaluate asprosin's role in the development of type 2 diabetes and to better understand the biological mechanisms underlying these associations. Additional studies will determine whether modifying asprosin levels could lead to effective clinical interventions.

The takeaway

This research provides new insights into how a specific hormone may help maintain weight stability in postmenopausal women with healthy metabolisms, offering a promising target for tailored obesity prevention strategies in this population.