This is probably the most underappreciated piece of the puzzle. Research has shown that estrogen actually increases GLP-1 production in both the intestine and pancreas. Estrogen stimulates GLP-1 release by activating specific receptors. As estrogen decreases during perimenopause, GLP-1 signaling also weakens, leading to increased appetite, fat accumulation — especially around the belly — and difficulty managing blood sugar, even if your habits haven’t changed. Microdosing GLP-1 can, to some extent, be thought of as replacing a signaling pathway that your body is missing.
