According to Dr Isstelle Jonker, medical practitioner at Dr Smook and Partners, managed by RxME Group, many women are incorrectly blaming themselves for physical and emotional changes that may be linked to complex hormonal, metabolic and stress-related shifts that commonly emerge after the age of 35.
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Many women over 35 are struggling with physical and emotional changes that include weight gain, fatigue, inflammation and anxiety, often without understanding the underlying cause.
According to Dr Isstelle Jonker, a medical practitioner at Dr Smook and Partners, managed by RxME Group, these symptoms are frequently linked to complex hormonal, metabolic and stress-related shifts rather than lifestyle failure.
“Many women come to us convinced they’ve become lazy or weak,” Dr Jonker said. “But in reality, they’re navigating significant hormonal, metabolic, and stress-related changes that no one properly prepared them for.”
She noted that many patients are balancing demanding careers, family responsibilities and emotional pressures, often leaving the body in a prolonged state of stress.
Dr Jonker explained that after the age of 35, changes in hormone regulation, cortisol levels, insulin sensitivity, sleep quality, muscle mass and inflammation can become more pronounced. Chronic stress, she added, plays a central role in worsening symptoms.
“The modern woman rarely truly rests,” she said. “Even when sitting still, her nervous system is often in overdrive.”
This constant stress response can lead to fatigue, stubborn weight gain, disrupted sleep, anxiety and emotional eating patterns, she added.
Dr Jonker said many women also experience emotional distress as they struggle to recognise changes in their bodies and energy levels.
“Women tell me, ‘I don’t feel like me anymore.’ And that’s heartbreaking,” she said. “It’s not just about appearance. It’s about confidence, energy, identity, and feeling comfortable in your own body again.”
Dr Smook and Partners has positioned itself as a specialist in women’s metabolic and hormonal health, focusing on a broader approach that includes hormone awareness, stress management, inflammation reduction and sustainable lifestyle support, rather than restrictive dieting alone.
Dr Jonker said there is also a growing shift in how women approach their health, with more patients asking deeper questions about fatigue, inflammation and long-term wellbeing.
“Women are no longer only asking how to lose weight,” she said. “They are asking why they feel exhausted, why their bodies feel inflamed, and why they no longer feel like themselves.”
She added that many women are not seeking perfection, but rather a return to feeling healthy, energised and comfortable in their bodies.
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