Mariel Padilla opens up on midlife changes and wellness
As women reach their 40s, many begin to notice subtle yet significant changes in their bodies. Muscle tone may decline, metabolism slows, and hormonal shifts linked to perimenopause can bring new challenges such as weight gain, reduced strength, and even bladder leaks.
For some, these changes arrive quietly but steadily, affecting daily routines and overall well-being. Actress and television host Mariel Padilla is one of those who has spoken publicly about going through this stage of life.
Mariel said that in her 40s, she has noticed changes in her body, such as muscle loss, bladder leaks, and the effects of perimenopause. To manage these, she turned to Wonder Axon by Marie France. She added that between work and family life, she began to see her body losing muscle tone and, at times, experienced leaks after coughing or laughing.
“These changes aren’t just part of getting older,” she said. “They’re linked to muscle loss and hormonal changes that begin as early as our 30s and accelerate during perimenopause.”
Perimenopause and its effects
Doctors say estrogen decline during perimenopause naturally leads to muscle loss. This slows metabolism, increases weight gain — particularly around the midsection — and affects strength, stability, and bladder control.
Weak pelvic floor muscles, often caused by pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal changes, aging, weight gain, or chronic coughing and constipation, may result in urinary incontinence, reduced core stability, and discomfort that can quietly affect a woman’s quality of life.
“I know that so many of us suffer from bladder leakage or an overactive bladder, that when you feel the urge to go, oh, you really have to go,” Mariel said. “It can be embarrassing, but it’s very common.”
She also spoke about the challenges of incontinence after giving birth. “When I said I need to go, it means I really need to go, because by just coughing, laughing, or sneezing, I can’t control it anymore. Although it’s manageable now, I can control it.”
Mariel said she turned to Wonder Axon, a treatment offered by Marie France, which combines neuromuscular stimulation, electromagnetic fields, and inductive radio frequency to trigger thousands of deep muscle contractions in 25 minutes.
The treatment is designed not only to tone visible muscles but also to strengthen the deeper core and the five major muscles that make up the pelvic floor. By building this interconnected network, Wonder Axon aims to improve pelvic support, core strength, and overall body confidence.
“For someone like me na hindi talaga ma-workout, this has been such a big help,” she said. “But if you do workouts regularly, it also complements what you do by targeting muscles that are usually hard to reach.”
She described the procedure as “intense” but not painful.
Broader impact of muscle health
During an exclusive event held recently at Marie France in Makati, Dr. Preetha Kkiran, research and training head for Wonder Axon, noted that people in their 20s and 30s can lose about 3 to 5 percent of their muscle mass, with the number increasing to as much as 8 to 10 percent after age 30. That rate can double over time if not addressed.
Muscle health plays a key role in metabolism, fat burning, and blood sugar regulation. Stronger muscles absorb glucose more efficiently, stabilize how the body uses carbohydrates, and improve insulin sensitivity.
“One example is when two people climb a mountain together — someone with more muscle burns significantly more calories doing the same activity,” said Dr. Preetha, who joined the discussion on muscle loss and perimenopause. “The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism, and that energy comes from fat stores.”
She added that stronger muscles can help prevent spikes in blood sugar, a significant concern in the Philippines, which ranks among the highest in the world for diabetes.
Marie France, which has been offering treatments for slimming and women’s health for four decades, said Wonder Axon represents a science-backed approach to strengthening muscles and supporting overall wellness.
