Diet guru Eddie Abbew has come under fire after suggesting perimenopause is ‘just a BS term’ – and that the symptoms can be reversed with diet.
The former NHS psychiatric nurse and former Mr Britain – who claims to eat ten to 16 eggs a day – said the biological phase is a ‘term coined by big pharmaceutical industry’.
In a viral post, the influencer, who has more than 3.9 million Instagram followers, also said perimenopause – when hormones fluctuate before menopause – was a ploy to get women “addicted to HRT.”
Experts have labeled his comments as ‘shameful’, ‘ignorant’ and ‘irresponsible’.
Other doctors labeled the advice as ‘factually incorrect’ and accused him of ‘wanting to be controversial to death’.
Former NHS psychiatric nurse, bodybuilder and former Mr Britain, Eddie Abbew, said the biological phenomenon is just a ‘term coined by big pharmaceutical industry’
Instead, the influencer, who has more than 3.9 million followers on Instagram, claimed that perimenopause – when women experience menopausal symptoms but still get their periods – was a ploy to get them ‘hooked on HRT’.
Responding to Mr Abbew’s post, Canadian gynecologist Dr Jen Gunter told her 314,000 Instagram followers: ‘This is rage-mongering to get attention, to get people to buy the things this person is selling.
Unintentional weight gain is a common complaint of women going through perimenopause.
Research shows that losing weight can ease hot flashes while lowering the risk of serious complications, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
But this cannot reverse the condition.
Menopause naturally accelerates bone loss and also increases the risk of osteoporosis.
Responding to Mr Abbew’s post, Canadian gynecologist Dr Jen Gunter told her 314,000 Instagram followers: ‘This is rage-mongering to get attention, to get people to buy the things this person is selling.
“I think it’s a very sad reflection on Instagram that someone like that can have 3.9 million followers.”
The author of the bestsellers The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto added: ‘Clearly this person has no idea about the function of the ovaries.
“They have no idea about the investigation.”
Dr. Sarah Murphy, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist in Mullingar, Ireland, added: ‘This is factually incorrect.
‘Please do not share incorrect information that you know nothing about. Stay in your lane.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Adele Johnston, founder of The Menopause Coach, said: ‘Oh Eddie Eddie Eddie, this is embarrassing for you.
‘You have launched yourself completely off track with this and your complete ignorance, lack of knowledge and narrow-minded thinking is obvious.
Laura Dowling, a pharmacist and founder of a supplement brand from Dublin, said: ‘Eddie, your profile should say ‘dying to be controversial’. You’re crazy.’
Typical symptoms of perimenopause include mood swings, including anxiety and mood swings, problems with memory, hot flashes, sleep problems, weight gain and decreased sex drive.
Muscle and joint pain, palpitations, and vaginal dryness or pain are other common symptoms. Eight in ten women will experience symptoms.
Research has long shown that women between the ages of 50 and 60 gain an average of more than 6kg, regardless of their starting weight, race or ethnicity.
Being larger can worsen menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and increase the risk of complications.
Dr. Gunter (pictured), author of bestsellers such as The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto, added: ‘This person clearly has no idea about the function of the ovaries’
Experts labeled his comments as ’embarrassing’, ‘ignorant’ and ‘irresponsible’. Other doctors labeled the advice as ‘factually incorrect’ and accused him of ‘wanting to be controversial to death’
According to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), lifestyle changes can help reduce the symptoms of menopause, make them more ‘bearable’, maintain bone density and reduce the risk of heart disease.
However, they cannot be completely reversed.
Although the BDA recommends hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve symptoms, a variety of calcium-rich foods can also ‘help keep bones healthy’.
The guidelines recommend consuming two to three portions a day, including 200ml of semi-skimmed milk, ‘a piece of cheese the size of a matchbox’, a small yoghurt or milk-based pudding-like custard.
Other research has also shown that refined carbohydrates can hasten the onset of menopause.
Researchers estimate that there will be 1.2 billion women in menopause worldwide by 2030 as life expectancy increases.
Women are advised to see their GP if their symptoms are difficult to control.
HRT is the main medicine used to relieve symptoms. It works by replacing hormones that are at low levels.
But official figures show that the use of HRT has exploded in England in recent years.
The latest NHS data shows that 11 million HRT prescriptions were given in 2022/2023, an increase of 47 per cent on the previous year. They were distributed to 2.3 million patients, an increase of 29 percent compared to the 2021-2022 period.
Demand was so high that Britain was hit by a shortage of certain HRT drugs.
Experts estimate that HRT gels, patches and pills are up to 90 percent effective at reducing symptoms.