If you’ve been feeling off in your 30s, 40s, or 50s—tired, bloated, gaining weight despite healthy habits—you’re not imagining it. These are common signs that your metabolism, hormones, and overall biochemistry are shifting. But here’s the problem: most advice still treats women like we’re all the same.
This week on Sofia Unfiltered, Dr. Onikepe Adegbola, a physician-scientist and expert in lifestyle, menopause, and obesity medicine shares what’s actually changing in your body during midlife, why generic weight loss or “just eat less” advice fails, how AI and advanced testing are reshaping personalized care, and simple, science-backed changes you can start today.
Ready to take control? Explore Health Coaches, Nutritionists, and Functional Medicine Experts on Sofia Health who support midlife wellness.
If you’re a woman in your 30s, 40s, or 50s wondering why your body feels like a mystery lately, you’re not alone. Between perimenopause, weight gain, fatigue, gut issues, and mood changes, many women are told these shifts are “just part of getting older.”
But what if you could decode what’s really going on—and get a health plan that’s tailored to your body?
That’s exactly what Dr. Onikepe “Onyx” Adegbola is doing for women navigating metabolic and hormonal changes in midlife. As a physician-scientist certified in lifestyle, obesity, and menopause medicine, Dr. Adegbola brings together cutting-edge science, AI-driven data tools, and a deep passion for helping women feel empowered—not dismissed—during one of life’s most pivotal transitions.
In this episode of Sofia Unfiltered, Dr. Adegbola shares the truth about:
Let’s break it all down—and help you take your next step toward personalized, integrative support.
During midlife, metabolism slows due to declining estrogen, reduced muscle mass, and insulin resistance—but it can be supported with targeted strategies. Many women notice their usual wellness habits stop “working” in their 40s. Weight creeps on, energy drops, and stress feels harder to manage. According to Dr. Adegbola, this isn’t just anecdotal—it’s biological.
“Menopause and perimenopause... is a time of change for women on many levels, not just physiologically, but also psychologically…” she explains. “...AI [helps] people live the best lives they can health-wise, in terms of recommendation, in terms of coaching... [and] makes life easier for women at this stage.”
But the solution isn’t extreme diets or over-exercising. Instead, Dr. Adegbola uses precision medicine—an approach that analyzes your unique biomarkers, genetics, gut microbiome, and lifestyle to tailor your health plan.
Shop for hormone test kits on Sofia Health or explore support from Functional Medicine Experts who understand the hormonal-metabolic connection.
Precision medicine uses data like labs, genetics, and digital tracking to design a health plan tailored to your body’s exact needs.
In her practice, Dr. Adegbola combines:
This approach helps women finally get answers when traditional healthcare has only offered vague advice like “eat less, move more.”
And perhaps most importantly, they’re not designed to replace clinicians. As Dr. Onikepe puts it, “...we also see it helping in some of the services that we offer in terms of just making life easier…”
Looking for tailored support? Connect with Sleep Therapists and Functional Nutritionists on Sofia Health.
Your gut health affects estrogen metabolism, inflammation, cravings, and even mood—making it central to midlife wellness.
Hormonal changes don’t happen in isolation. Your gut, liver, brain, and immune system are part of a feedback loop that can either support or sabotage your wellbeing.
The estrobolome—a collection of gut bacteria that help regulate estrogen metabolism and, when the gut is imbalanced (due to diet, stress, or antibiotics), estrogen can become reabsorbed, increasing symptoms like:
Dr. Onikepe put it simply, “And one of the things that you find out when you get into gut health is how different the experiences of everybody is and how personalized each approach has to be.”
To support gut and hormonal health in midlife, a tailored approach may include:
High-fiber, plant-based meals
Fermented foods to support microbiome diversity
Targeted probiotic support
Anti-inflammatory smoothies or herbal blends
While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be helpful, lifestyle changes and precision medicine are powerful alternatives or complements.
There’s a common misconception that menopause symptoms must be managed with hormones, but lifestyle medicine can provide a more nuanced view, for example:
AI tools can uncover patterns in your health data—helping providers personalize care faster and more accurately. Dr. Adegbola’s clinic uses AI to provide personalized care based on the unique lifestyle and lab markers of her patients.
More broadly, AI in healthcare can aid clinicians to:
This isn’t about replacing providers—it’s about enhancing care with smarter tools.
If you’ve ever been told “your labs are normal” while still feeling off, AI-driven analysis might reveal the missing puzzle piece.
Many women normalize these symptoms—but they may point to deeper hormonal dysregulation:
These aren’t “just aging.” They’re messages from your body that something is off. Dr. Adegbola encourages women to track their symptoms and trust their intuition when they know something isn’t right.
Need help getting started? Book a consult with trained in Hormonal Care Experts.
If you're overwhelmed by information, start simple. Dr. Adegbola shares the three habits she’s fostered to support midlife wellness:
To effectively manage the symptoms of menopause, it’s essential to make meaningful lifestyle changes that address both environmental and biological factors. However, just as important is the need to document and understand the difference between what is considered “normal” and what is “abnormal” for your unique body. This understanding will empower you to identify changes that may require medical attention.
Here’s how you can do this:
Write down your energy, sleep, mood, cycles, and digestion daily for 2 weeks.
Ask for a full hormone and metabolic panel, or work with a provider who will order them for you.
Whether it’s with AI-backed tools or an integrative provider, you deserve more than cookie-cutter solutions.
Midlife doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your body is asking for a new kind of support. One that’s informed by science, tailored to you, and rooted in the belief that you can feel good again.
With leaders like Dr. Adegbola pioneering AI-powered, personalized medicine, women now have access to better care—and better outcomes.
Find providers who specialize in metabolic, hormonal, and midlife care on Sofia Health. From functional medicine, nutrition, and integrative coaching to lifestyle medicine and personalized fitness, our practitioners help you implement strategies tailored to your unique biology, goals, and daily life. You can even shop the Sofia Marketplace for products and services or work with a lifestyle medicine expert to address your needs.
Check out the full episode of the Sofia Unfiltered podcast, "Midlife Metabolism, Menopause & the Power of Precision Medicine" where we explore how AI is being used to personalize menopause and midlife care, offering tailored insights into hormone health, weight changes, sleep, and chronic conditions. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Hormones play a huge role. Declining estrogen increases fat storage and decreases insulin sensitivity. Your body becomes more reactive to stress and less efficient at processing carbs.
Muscle mass also declines after 30, and muscle is metabolically active. Without strength training or adequate protein, your metabolism slows.
Routine screenings and tests are recommended by women’s health doctors at different stages of life to ensure that early signs are caught before escalating:
Want someone to help interpret your labs and create a step-by-step plan? Explore Hormone Nutrition Specialists on Sofia Health.
Disclaimer: The Sofia Unfiltered Podcast by Sofia Health is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. For any health concerns, users should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals.