Hormone Asprosin Linked to Long-Term Weight Changes After Menopause: Study

A new study suggests that the hormone Asprosin may play an important role in long-term weight changes among postmenopausal women. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, found that this fasting-induced hormone could influence body composition and weight stability, potentially offering a new target for preventing obesity and related metabolic diseases. The findings were published in The Journal of Nutrition.

Weight gain after menopause is a major health concern because it increases the risk of cardiometabolic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes. However, the biological factors driving long-term weight changes during this stage of life are not fully understood. Asprosin, which is produced mainly by fat tissue, helps regulate energy balance by stimulating the liver to release glucose and signaling the brain to increase appetite.

The research team, led by Simin Liu, analyzed data from more than 4,000 postmenopausal women participating in the Women's Health Initiative, a large national study involving women aged 50 to 79 across the United States. Scientists measured baseline asprosin levels in blood samples collected between 1993 and 1998 and monitored participants’ body weight, fat mass, and lean body mass over three years. Some participants also underwent detailed body composition analysis using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scans.

Among women without obesity or diabetes at the start of the study, those with the highest asprosin levels gained significantly less weight over three years compared with those with the lowest levels. They were 43% less likely to experience major weight gain and 83% more likely to achieve significant weight loss, although some weight loss involved reductions in lean muscle mass.

Researchers suggest that asprosin may help maintain weight stability when metabolic health is intact. However, its effects may weaken in the presence of insulin resistance or early diabetes. Further studies are needed to determine whether modifying asprosin levels could help develop targeted treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders.

REFERENCE: Ng, S., et al. (2026). Circulating Asprosin Levels and Body Weight Changes in Postmenopausal Women: Findings from the Women’s Health Initiative. Journal of Nutrition. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101441. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022316626000908?via%3Dihub