/65 Hormones That Are Related To Weight Gain And How To Maintain Them
Hormonal imbalance can be a result of various factors, such as puberty, pregnancy or certain medication. Impacting our mental and physical health, imbalanced hormones can also lead to weight gain. And losing weight when your hormones are not in balance can even be harder. Hence, its important to keep a check on such hormones that are responsible for gaining weight. So, how you can do it and what can be done to avoid it? Following is the list of such hormones and how you can manage their levels in your body.
Beware Rebound Weight Gain That Can Occur When Hormone Therapy Stops
There is something of a catch. The benefit may last only as long as the therapy. Ultimately, if youre stopping hormone therapy, also talk to your doctor about the risk of increasing belly fat, as well as what you can do in terms of diet and exercise to prevent this weight rebound, says Pinkerton.
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Key Takeaways About Hormonal Weight Gain
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What You Need To Know About Leptin Resistance
When your body becomes resistant to leptin, leptin levels become too high. In fact, overweight individuals who get their leptin levels tested typically find their leptin levels to be as high as four times the normal level. Whats more, its really difficult to balance leptin levels once theyve become resistant.
With leptin resistance, communication between the brain and leptin is impaired, so that your brain doesnt understand that its full, and tells your body to keep eating. Its as if your brain thinks youre starving when in reality, youre just leptin resistant.
To reverse leptin resistance or prevent it from happening to you in the first place, lets talk food, drink, and supplements. Everything in your body impacted by what you put into it, and leptins no different. Sugar, in particular, can cause leptin levels in your body to skyrocket, so youll want to eat less sugar. Other ways to prevent or reduce leptin resistance include:
- Committing to a regular exercise routine
- Getting truly restorative sleep on a regular basis
Why Weight Gain Often Happens After Menopause
What is it about menopause that makes it so hard to keep off the weight? It’s likely a mix of factors related to menopause and aging.
The impact of estrogen. In animal studies, estrogen appears to help control body weight. With lower estrogen levels, lab animals tend to eat more and be less physically active. Reduced estrogen may also lower metabolic rate, the rate at which the body converts stored energy into working energy. It’s possible the same thing happens with women when estrogen levels drop after menopause. Some evidence suggests that estrogen hormone therapy increases a woman’s resting metabolic rate. This might help slow weight gain. Lack of estrogen may also cause the body to use starches and blood sugar less effectively, which would increase fat storage and make it harder to lose weight.
Other age-related factors. As women age, many other changes happen that contribute to weight gain. For example:
- You’re less likely to exercise. Sixty percent of adults aren’t active enough, and this increases with age.
- You lose muscle mass, which lowers your resting metabolism, making it easier to gain weight.
- The rate at which you can use up energy during exercise declines. To use the same energy as in the past and achieve weight loss, you may need to increase the amount of time and intensity you’re exercising, no matter what your past activity levels were.
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Hormones That Build Muscle
Androgen hormones such as testosterone and DHEA build muscle and break down fat. They directly turn on DNA to make protein and build structure such as muscle and bone. They also kick-start enzymes that break down fat. The fat accumulation around the belly of aging men and women is partly due to declining levels of these androgen hormones.
Growth hormone is touted as the mother of anti-aging hormones since it has so many benefits that promote health and slow aging. Made by the liver, it too will build muscle and bone while breaking down fat.
These hormones are all anabolic which means they build tissue. Unlike the synthetic anabolic hormones abused by sports stars these natural anabolic hormones promote strong healthy bodies. Unfortunately they normally decline with aging such that by age 50-60 most of us are starting to show the signs of their disappearance.
How To Balance Leptin For Weight Loss:
A huge component to balancing your leptin levels is getting enough sleep. When you dont get enough sleep, your leptin levels are lower and you dont feel as satisfied after you eat. Harvard studies show that sleep deprivation reduces leptin levels and actually increases your bodys desire for fatty or carbohydrate-rich foods.
If you suspect a leptin imbalance is to blame for your weight gain, make sleep a priority each and every nightwe should all be prioritizing sleep anyway for its myriad of health benefits. But if weight loss is the kick in the pants you need to start catching more zzzs, then let that be your motivation.
Other ways to balance your leptin levels include:
- Taking an Omega 3 supplement or eat more Omega 3 rich foods such as fatty fish, grass-fed meats, and chia seeds
- Exercising regularly
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What Are The Side Effects Of Bioidentical Hormone Pellets
For most men and women, plant-based hormone pellets cause fewer side effects when compared with synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Because BioTE pellets are made from natural substances that mimic the bodys own hormones, patients are typically able to absorb and process the hormones more efficiently and avoid complications, such as adverse or allergic reactions, rollercoaster symptoms, and more. However, there are some potential side effects associated with taking BioTE hormone pellets, many of which can be attributed to the change in hormone levels themselves rather than a reaction to the medication. These may include:
- Weight fluctuation
- Fatigue
- Mood changes
- Spotting or cramping
Again, many of these potential side effects are temporary and often occur as the result of the body adjusting to the sudden increase in hormones. Once the hormone levels reach the normal physiologic range and become balanced, patients will likely notice a dramatic improvement in any side effects they may have been experiencing. Additionally, the innovative BioTE system allows your provider to precisely customize your BHRT plan to ensure you get the most appropriate and effective hormone dose. During your follow-up appointments, Dr. Christy will carefully monitor your hormone levels with blood work and discuss any symptoms or negative side effects you may have. Using this information, Dr. Christy can adjust your BioTE dose accordingly.
The Relationship Of Hormones And Weight Gain
Maintaining a healthy weight can feel like a Catch-22. Being overweight or underweight affects your hormones and can throw them out of whack. But hormone imbalances can be the reason your weight is fluctuating.
So, what are hormones, and why are they messing with your weight?
Hormones are chemical messengers in your body. They are messengers that travel through your bloodstream to reach tissues and organs. Hormones are essential in coordinating and controlling bodily activities.
Your body may accidentally over or underproduce hormones. When this happens, your endocrine system becomes unbalanced.
The most common complaint of hormonal imbalances is weight gain. Even when dieting and exercising regularly, people with hormonal issues continue to experience unexplained weight gain. Other warning signs of a hormonal imbalance include:
- Mood swings and depression
- Fertility problems
- Weakness and fatigue
Hormone problems are very prevalent, especially in women. A survey found that out of 2,000 American women, 47% percent reported symptoms of hormonal imbalances.
Lets explore the different hormones that affect our body weight.
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Get Your Hormones Checked
So youve followed the previous tips, implemented major lifestyle changes and established that neither medication nor vitamin deficiency is an issue. Youve even tried raising your ketone levels for a while . And you still cant hit the normal weight mark?
If this applies to you, its high time to consider the possibility that hormonal imbalances are the cause of your troubles. There are three common problem areas:
Thyroid hormone
Some people, especially women, suffer decreased metabolism as a result of thyroid hormone deficiency hypothyroidism. Common symptoms are:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
In these cases, weight gain resulting from decreased metabolism usually does not exceed fifteen pounds.
Your doctor can easily arrange for you to take a blood test to measure the concentration of thyroid stimulating hormone . If the test comes back and everything looks good, your thyroid gland is probably fine. For a more exact diagnosis, you can ask them to measure the actual levels of thyroid hormone in the blood .
Two ways to avoid becoming deficient in thyroid hormone:
Hypothyroidism Type 2
How To Keep Estrogen At Optimal Levels
To balance estrogen levels naturally and prevent the weight gain that happens with an estrogen imbalance, youll want to do the following:
- Commit to a regular exercise routine. Many studies, including this 2012 one, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, explain how exercise lowers estrogen levels in obese women.
- Eat your fiber. Fibrous foods help decrease elevated estrogen levels.
- Eat veggies in the cruciferous family. These include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, and bok choy. Anything green and leafy is always a good idea, too!
- Reduce your exposure to endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with our natural hormones. Avoid plastic containers, cans, or water bottles made with BPA. Never microwave plastic.
- Choose organic foods when possible, and choose phthalate-free cosmetics and personal care products.
- Consider bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, which uses plant-based hormones identical to those produced naturally by the human body to keep hormones balanced.
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What You Can Do: Stop Overeating The Foods That Cause Insulin Resistance
How do we ensure our insulin levels remain balanced? First, we need to stop eating too much. Its a known fact that overeating leads to insulin resistance, especially when we eat too much food thats no good for our bodies and minds. When we eat too much sugar, too much fast food, and too many processed carbohydrates, insulin goes haywire. These elevated insulin levels lead to weight gain and low-grade inflammation. A 2010 study published in the journal Diabetes found that even eating too much of these foods in the short term leads to insulin resistance and weight gain.
You may also want to restrict carbohydrates in your diet. According to a study published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, a low-carb diet prevents metabolic syndrome and the insulin resistance that causes it. Other findings show drinking green tea, consuming omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish, and eating adequate amounts of protein all help balance insulin levels.
How Exercise Helps With Weight After Menopause
The more active you are, the less weight you’re likely to gain. A National Institutes of Health review showed that people who did aerobic activities every day for 10 or more minutes had 6 fewer inches around the waistline compared to people who didn’t exercise. And exercising while you’re in the process of losing weight — as well as after you’ve lost it — may be critical to maintaining weight loss.
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Putting It All Together
Restful sleep has so many benefits on natural hormone production that perhaps it is our most important strategy to successful weight loss! During deep sleep we make more anabolic hormones and more leptin. Melatonin is part of the normal sleep cycle and is promoted by absolute darkness, quiet, and cooler temperatures.
Regular exercise is another way to increase anabolic hormone production and improve insulin and leptin sensitivity so that each works properly. A combination of aerobic and anaerobic is ideal. Peak intensity training, also called interval or burst training, to threshold will maximize growth hormone output.
Diet plays a major role in more than just the amount of calories consumed. The proper balance of proteins and carbohydrates is essential. The protein stimulates glucagon production and provides the amino acids necessary to make serotonin, dopamine and GABA. Protein is also necessary for good muscle development. Including anti-inflammatory fats is also important as fats do not stimulate insulin and help provide a long lasting energy source. Eliminating sugar and limiting high-glycemic foods and inflammatory fats will help. Avoid high-fructose energy drinks.
Our weight loss program addresses all these issues and many others. Simply telling patients to watch what you eat and exercise more is not good enough! Addressing hormone imbalances is a necessary part of successful weight loss.
Can Hormone Therapy Help Lose Weight And What Type To Prefer
Can hormone therapy help lose weight when one uses creams or gels? Scientific studies have tested different forms of HRT and claimed that shots, pills, and implants cause more negative variables compared to gels and HRT cream and weight gain. Health advisors prescribe stronger variants for surgical menopause weight gain because in that case, the body lacks organs that produce reproductive hormones. If a person wants to relieve some symptoms, one can turn to hormonal forms which give fewer negative reactions like creams, gels, and pessaries.
Clinical trials state that bioidentical hormone therapy for weight loss is safer compared to the traditional one. Such hormones are native to the human body because their composition is identical. The organism does not reject them and is more likely to cope with problems initiated by the transition period. Studies also assure the beneficial influence of bioidentical hormone therapy for weight loss. Can hormone replacement therapy help you lose weight? Yes, but only when treatment unites professionals, unique approach to medication, and the most suitable form of hormones with the right dosage.
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How To Lose Hormonal Weight Gain
The best way to control your hormonal imbalance is through regular check-ups, lifestyle management, and medication for the same. Heres what you can do to control your weight at this time.
- Get blood tests done if you are experiencing unwanted weight gain.
- Avoid eating processed food, alcohol, late-night snacks, aerated and artificially sweetened drinks, etc.
- Sleep properly and peacefully. Studies have shown that short sleep duration increases ghrelin and lowers leptin in the body, which results in weight gain .
- Keep yourself hydrated to stay healthy.
- Fill your plate with lots of fresh vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.
- Exercise regularly and burn more calories.
- Dedicate an hour every day to practice deep breathing, yoga, and meditation to reduce stress.
Hormonal imbalance can make it difficult to shed weight. Check with a doctor if you are finding it difficult to lose weight even after following a healthy lifestyle and diet.
To treat hormonal imbalance, it is advised to check your hormonal profile quarterly, lead a healthy lifestyle, and exercise to burn more calories.
Menopausal Weight Gain: 4 Hormones Other Than Estrogen That Need Your Attention
Our bodies are constantly changing. Your metabolism now isnt what it was when you were three, nor is your body chemistry. As we age, things change whether we want them to or not. Among the many changes are than those that occur at middle age, such as the ever-dreaded menopause weight gain.
Menopause is the natural process by which women leave child-bearing age. As the physical changes of the process begin and continue, many women experience the consequence of weight gain. Understanding that this is common and what causes it will help you to address any unwanted pounds to help you keep your youthful health and appearance.
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Are You Experiencing More Joint Pain In Winter
Its the punchline of many jokes: I feel the storm coming, my bad leg hurts!. It doesnt help that its often said by a stereotypically ancient person. But is this a myth or is it actually true? And do you have to be in your hundreds to feel the weathers effect on joints? The answer might surprise you.
A lot of people feel pain in the joints when the weather turns, especially in wintertime. Whats to blame?
Changes in air pressure some people can tell the pressure is changing because of achy joints. This change causes joints to expand, making everything around them hurt. This can be especially painful in areas affected by arthritis.
Thickening of joint fluid this makes joints stiff and not as flexible, but also more sensitive to pain.
How to protect yourself against weather-caused joint pain?
There are a few ways in which you can help yourself if you are experiencing specifically weather-related joint pain. The simplest way is to dress warm and not let the cold affect you.
Here are some other simple ways to better manage this:
- Exercise is the cure for so many ailments that its not surprising that its on this list as well. Building up your muscle will relieve the stress on your joints and they will get the benefit of much-needed support.
- Maintaining a healthy weight is also a great way to reduce stress on the joints.
- Keep active throughout the winter period go on walks, to the gym, or do some cardio at home. Make sure you stretch your joints before exercising.