Diet guru Eddie Abbew has come under fire after suggesting that perimenopause is “just nonsense” and that symptoms can be reversed with diet.
The former NHS psychiatric nurse and former Mr Britain, who claims to eat 10 to 16 eggs a day, said the biological phase is a “term coined by Big Pharma”.
In a viral post, the influencer, who has more than 3.9 million followers on Instagram, also said that perimenopause (when hormones fluctuate before menopause) was a ploy to “get women hooked on HRT.” .
Experts have called his comments “shameful,” “ignorant” and “irresponsible.”
Other doctors called the advice “factually incorrect” and accused it of “dying to be controversial.”
Eddie Abbew, a former NHS psychiatric nurse, bodybuilder and former Lord of Britain, said the biological phenomenon is simply a “term coined by Big Pharma.”
Instead, the influencer, who has more than 3.9 million followers on Instagram, claimed that perimenopause (when women experience menopause symptoms but still have periods) was a ploy to “get them hooked on HRT.”
Responding to Abbew’s post, Canadian gynecologist Jen Gunter told her 314,000 Instagram followers: “This is anger-mongering to get attention, to get people to buy whatever this person is selling.”
Unintentional weight gain is a common complaint of women going through perimenopause.
Studies show that losing weight can relieve hot flashes while reducing the risk of serious complications, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
But this cannot reverse the situation.
Menopause naturally accelerates bone loss and also increases the risk of osteoporosis.
Responding to Abbew’s post, Canadian gynecologist Jen Gunter told her 314,000 Instagram followers: “This is anger-mongering to get attention, to get people to buy whatever shit this person is selling.”
“I think it’s a really sad reflection on Instagram that someone like that can have 3.9 million followers.”
The author of the best-selling books The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto added: “This person obviously has no concept of ovarian function.
“They have no idea about the investigation.”
Dr Sarah Murphy, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology in Mullingar, Ireland, added: “This is factually incorrect.
‘Please do not share incorrect information that you know nothing about. Stay in your lane.
Meanwhile, Adele Johnston, Scotland-based founder of The menopause Coach, said: “Oh Eddie Eddie Eddie, this is embarrassing for you.”
‘You have gone completely off track with this one and your complete ignorance, lack of knowledge and narrow way of thinking is evident.
Laura Dowling, a pharmacist and founder of a Dublin supplement brand, said: ‘Eddie, your profile should say ‘death to be controversial’. You’re a dumb idiot.’
Typical symptoms of perimenopause include mood changes, such as anxiety and mood swings, memory problems, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, weight gain, and reduced sexual desire.
Muscle and joint pain, palpitations, and vaginal dryness or pain are other common signs. Eight out of ten women will experience symptoms.
Studies have long shown that women gain more than 6kg on average between the ages of 50 and 60, 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 the best-selling books The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto, added: “This person obviously has no concept of ovarian function.”
Experts called his comments “shameful,” “ignorant” and “irresponsible.” Other doctors called the advice “factually incorrect” and accused it of “dying to be controversial.”
According to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), changing lifestyle can help reduce menopausal symptoms to make them “more tolerable”, maintain bone density and reduce the risk of heart disease.
However, they cannot be completely reversed.
While the BDA recommends hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help relieve symptoms, a variety of calcium-rich foods can also “help maintain healthy bones.”
According to its guidelines, it recommends consuming two to three servings a day, which could include 200 ml of semi-skimmed milk, “a piece of cheese the size of a matchbox”, a small yogurt or a milk-based pudding such as custard. .
Other research has also indicated that refined carbohydrates accelerate the onset of menopause.
Researchers estimate there will be 1.2 billion menopausal women 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 medication used to relieve symptoms. It works by replacing hormones that are at low levels.
But official figures show that HRT use has soared in England in recent years.
The latest NHS data recorded 11 million HRT prescriptions in 2022/23, a 47 per cent increase on the previous year. They were distributed among 2.3 million patients, an increase of 29 percent compared to the 2021-22 period.
Demand has been so great that the UK has been hit by a shortage of some HRT drugs.
Experts estimate that HRT gels, patches and pills are up to 90 percent effective in reducing symptoms.