Waking at 3am and can’t get back to sleep? This common perimenopause pattern is often linked to blood sugar, cortisol, and hormonal shifts. Here’s what’s really driving it-and what actually helps.

Many women notice weight gain in midlife despite eating well and exercising. One often-overlooked factor is stress. In this article, nutritionist I explain how stress hormones like cortisol affect metabolism, belly fat, sleep, and cravings during perimenopause and menopause, and what you can do to support your body instead.