A weight loss expert has shared the impact of one drink on menopausal women struggling with weight gain, alongside other dietary tweaks to help manage menopause weight management14:54, 01 Jul 2026Women's bodies undergo substantial changes before, during and after menopause, frequently leading to weight gain. Claire Jones, founder of YourOneLife Healthy Weight Solutions, has shared some dietary adjustments that can help women tackle this problem - including reducing alcohol consumption.‌She explained that weight gain around menopause is often caused by a combination of factors, some within our control and others not. However, she emphasised that we have the ability to choose how we respond to these changes.‌Many of the women Claire supports struggle to control their weight during menopause, frequently blaming their weight gain on this life phase. While it's accurate that menopause can be linked with weight gain, Claire assures that it's not unavoidable and can be controlled.‌She highlighted several common problems amongst menopausal women, including decreased physical activity resulting in boredom-driven snacking, busy lifestyles creating irregular eating patterns, loss of muscle mass through ageing, hormonal shifts influencing fat storage, stress, mood fluctuations and brain fog, reports Surrey Live.These elements can lead to sleep difficulties, substance use, and poor eating habits, especially involving high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.‌Claire, a weight loss specialist, has revealed her top recommendations for shedding pounds during menopause, promoting the 80/20 principle.She revealed: "If 80% of our calorie intake is coming from nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods, we can then have 20% of our calorie intake from whatever we fancy."She emphasised the importance of maintaining "a small calorie deficit" and proper hydration, advising that women should target two litres daily, as it not only aids weight loss but also supports overall health.‌That said, she urged cutting back on alcohol consumption owing to its high caloric content and resulting weight gain. Claire said: "As many people say, and I agree with - everything in moderation, as this is good advice."She continued: "Alcohol, however, is definitely worth considering cutting back on because of the impact it has on our weight in various ways."Claire revealed that alcohol contains seven calories per gram, meaning a standard bottle of wine totals approximately 600 calories.Article continues below"It's a poison, so our bodies process it before food, meaning food calories we may eat are more likely to be stored as fat," she explained.Furthermore, alcohol lowers inhibitions, leading to reduced motivation to maintain desired goals, alongside increased likelihood of succumbing to unwanted cravings that could result in overeating and excessive drinking.