Gabrielle Union and Drew Barrymore aren't holding back when it comes to talking about the time leading up to menopause, also known as perimenopause. In a segment of The Drew Barrymore Show on November 14, 2023, the two opened up about their sudden weight gain, along with other side effects.
“It felt like it happened overnight,” Gabrielle shared. “It was 27 pounds in what felt like overnight.” She continued on to share that a doctor recommended a strict diet in order to try to help manage the weight gain.
“They were like, 'First things first: No gluten, no dairy, no alcohol, no caffeine,'” the Being Mary Jane actress said. “I was like, 'Three out of four, I feel like I could try.'”
As for Drew, perimenopause caused her to experience extreme bloating. “When I am stressed, the [stress hormone] cortisol in my belly gets so bad that I can look anywhere from six to eight months pregnant,” she shared. “It happens quite often to me, and I have to change my diet, really reset everything, and then I get back to center.”
More from LittleThings: 5 Things You Thought You Knew About Menopause, But You Were Way Off Base
Dr. Kameelah Phillips, an OB-GYN who was on the show, explained that weight gain in menopause and perimenopause is pretty common. “Many of us don’t realize that as you’re entering your perimenopause transition, you can gain up to 30 pounds. We tend to gain this weight for many reasons.”
She went on to share that one of the biggest reasons is due to the busy lifestyle that women often live and the stress that accompanies it. “[Women] are caregivers, right? We start to eat crap. We don’t make time to exercise,” she shared. “That cortisol is just doing too much every day.”
Another effect of perimenopause that both Gabrielle and Drew seemed to experience was a dramatic shift in their moods. And both of them were caught off guard.
“Something just felt a little off,” Gabrielle recalled. “All these things, no one talks about it. They’d rather just say that you’re crazy or bitter.”
“You go through an emotional roller coaster, and you don’t know what’s happening," Drew added. "And there aren’t indicators there to help it make sense to you, so you just do whatever it is you can to be calmer so that you will be better for yourself, as well as those around you.”
Women in the comments seemed to appreciate Drew and Gabrielle for their openness around the subject.
"True," one person commented. "It was the worst thing I had to go through. I wasn't easy to be around. Id cry for nothing randomly. Look around every woman with wrinkles skin and gray hair had to go through that and you can get through it too. It lasts a few years then you're stable again."
*Disclaimer: The advice on LittleThings.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
