Excessive Hair Growth In Women
Excessive and coarse hair growth is a hormonal issue faced specifically by women. It occurs when there are high levels of androgens in the body. Even though women naturally produce androgens, as men do estrogen, the amounts are much lower.
PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal imbalance condition that causes womens bodies to produce far too many androgens. Fluctuating hormones during menopause can also trigger hirsutism and hormonal weight gain.
Here Are The 6 Hormones Responsible For Weight Gain In Women
Are you one of those who have tried everything possible to lose weight but without results? Have you checked your hormones? Many women suffer from hormonal imbalance, have food cravings and slow metabolism, which may be related to PMS, pregnancy, menopause or stress.
You should know that appetite, weight loss, and metabolism are directly linked to female hormones.
Here are some of the hormones responsible for weight gain in women:
1. Thyroid Hormone:
The problem with thyroid hormone is the most common among women. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone and is responsible for weight gain in women. The most common symptoms are: fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, dry skin and constipation.
2. Estrogen:
Estrogen is a female sex hormone which can cause weight gain during menopause, because of its decreased level. Fat cells are found to be another source of estrogen that converts calories into fats. This can also lead to obesity.
3. Progesterone:
The level of progesterone decreases in the body during menopause, which may cause water retention and bloating in women. In this condition you may feel like your body is fuller and heavier.
4. Testosterone:
5. Insulin:
6. Stress Hormone Or Cortisol:
Here are some tips to avoid weight gain:
Losing weight has never been easy and the following tips can help you lose weight quicker:
Hormonal Belly Fat: What Is It And How To Get Rid Of It
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- HORMONESHormonal Belly Fat: What Is It and How to Get Rid of It
Lower belly fat affects many people, and recognizing and understanding its causes can help you burn it off. Sometimes hormones can be the culprit for excess belly fat. As we age or experience lifestyle changes, our hormone levels can fluctuate due to several factors, such as menopause or high stress levels, resulting in a hormonal belly.
Fortunately, many tips and treatment options are available to help you get your hormones in check and lose hormonal body fat to achieve your ideal body weight.
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How Does Oestrogen Affect Weight Gain
An oestrogen imbalance can go two ways: you have too much or too little. High levels of oestrogen can trigger the pancreas to secrete more insulin.
The body’s cells are constantly signalled by insulin to convert sugar in the blood to energy. After some time, the cells become resistant to these insulin signals, a process known as insulin resistance.
During perimenopause and menopause, oestrogen levels begin to drop. Since the ovaries are no longer producing enough oestrogen, the body looks at other sources of oestrogen.
One source is fat cells in the body. The body starts converting all energy sources into fat to regain oestrogen levels, leading to hormonal weight gain, especially in the abdomen.
Why Are My Hormones Making Me Gain Weight
It is important to understand that hormones influence appetite, the rate of metabolism, and fat distribution. An imbalance in these hormones causes abnormal metabolism, leading to body fat accumulating.
A variety of factors can cause hormonal imbalance. Thyroid and adrenal gland issues are very common causes. Other causes are weight, medications, allergies, and stressful situations.
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Estrogen Progesterone And Thyroid Hormones
Estrogen and progesterone play a part in maintaining the health of the reproductive system.
When you dont sleep well, cortisol is high when you wake up in the morning. That can disrupt the tango between estrogen and progesterone, Gottfried adds. It can cause your thyroid to slow down, which can affect your metabolism by slowing it down.
Hormones That Affect Your Weight
A large number of hormones important to your body can significantly affect your weight. It can help to talk to your doctor about your weight concerns and to find out if, perhaps, your hormone levels may be imbalanced enough to lead to the problem. Below, youll find some of the most common hormones that can cause weight fluctuations.
Also Check: How To Balance Postpartum Hormones
Getting To Know Ghrelin
You can think of ghrelin as your hunger hormone. Like leptin, it communicates with the brain in this case, telling your brain to eat. Every time your stomach becomes empty, it naturally releases ghrelin into your bloodstream. Ghrelin levels are lowest just after youve finished a meal. Theyre at their highest when the stomach is empty and youre ready for your next meal. This scenario is normal when a person is healthy and maintaining optimal weight.
An overweight person, on the other hand, will find that like the other hormones weve explored ghrelin levels are typically out of whack. In healthy individuals, ghrelin levels decrease in a way that satiates them and signals their brains to stop eating. But in obese individuals, ghrelin levels dont decrease enough after eating, which fails to send the brain the signal it needs to stop eating and feel satisfied.
How To Test And Track Estrogen Levels
To best way to understand how your estrogen levels are responding to any recent treatments or lifestyle changes is through hormone testing and tracking.
Currently, there are three different ways that you can test your estrogen levels. This includes blood testing, urine testing, and saliva testing. Each method comes with its own pros and cons in terms of the medical support required and the type of information that you will receive in your results.
For example, a blood test at your doctors office or through an at-home testing service like Lets Get Checked will only give you a one-time snapshot of your estrogen levels at the time that you take your test. If you want to know how your levels change over time, you will need to continue testing on a weekly or monthly basis. The downside of this approach is that it can become expensive and time-consuming.
Urine testing with a system like Mira is another option that may be a bit less expensive depending on your situation and insurance. Testing with Mira is as easy as taking a pregnancy test, and the best part is that you will receive your results in real-time. While Mira cannot test for all types of estrogen, it can test for the urine metabolite of Estradiol , which is the most dominant form of estrogen in individuals of reproductive age.
Also Check: How To Increase Estrogen Levels With Food
Start Taking Hormonal Balance Supplements
Hormone balance pills and supplements are two of the most effective hormonal imbalance treatments you can opt for.
Since you already know which hormones are at play in hormone-related weight gain, the hormone balance supplements you choose should aim to alleviate their effects.
Here are few you can choose from:
- Ashwagandha Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that helps your body relax, de-stress, and feel balanced again – all thanks to lowered cortisol levels.
- Go With the Flow This formula of hormone balance herbs is designed to naturally balance a womans hormones, as they tend to fluctuate during the menstrual cycle and throughout menopause. Those who take this supplement report fewer PMS symptoms, as well as reduced acne, bloating, and tenderness.
- Positively Pregnant – Dad edition Positively Pregnant Dad Edition focuses on boosting male fertility, but its collection of potent herbs improve more than just libido. This natural remedy can help with weight loss by addressing testosterone levels since low testosterone increases weight and belly fat in men.
Pro-tip: If youre a woman dealing with weight gain because of hormones, you might consider trying hormone balance teas or other hormone balance drinks. These herbs, taken separately or combined, can help alleviate some of the symptoms of estrogen-related hormonal issues.
Are There Preventative Steps Or Measures To Avoid Hormonal Weight Gain
Seeking early evaluation with an endocrinologist so the appropriate interventions can be started sooner will help with minimizing and possibly reversing hormonal weight gain. Additionally, improving dietary choices, increasing physical activity, getting more sleep, managing stress levels effectively, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol are all ways to decrease and avoid hormonal weight gain.
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Estrogen The Stubborn Belly Fat Hormone
Even though estrogen is known as the female hormone, its found both in men and women.
And it has many effects on our body. To name just a few, it influences your reproductive tract, urinary system, and heart function.
When estrogen levels are out of balance, fat cells start converting any extra energy sources into stubborn abdominal fats.
Naturally, more women than men struggle with balancing estrogen levels, especially so in menopause, but its definitely worth keeping an eye on for both men and women.
If youre wondering how to keep your estrogen levels balanced, dont skip your annual checkups and consult your doctors for any hormone supplements if needed.
Incorporate Fibre Into Your Daily Diet
Fibre is incredibly important and you can get more into your daily diet by eating a variety of colourful vegetables and whole fruits. Vegetables in the cruciferous family must be consumed daily as they are rich in micronutrients.
Be sure to include whole grains, lean proteins, healthy plant-based fats, and fatty fish in your diet as well. Ground flaxseeds, which are rich in fibre and lignans, can help balance hormones.
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The Claim: Hormones Are The ‘true Culprit’ Behind Weight Gain For Women
Myths about health are common online, from how coffee can help you lose weight to how protein shakes are necessary to build muscle .
A adds to the noise, promoting via video the idea that hormones are the primary driver of weight gain in women.
Most women are told to exercise to get rid of weight, the post reads. This is often bad advice. Exercise plays only a tiny percentage of our daily calorie burn. Hormones are the true culprits behind weight gain.”
The post claims “most women constantly fight against their Hormones,” causing their “metabolism come to a standstill. The video has been viewed more than 600,000 times in two months.
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But the posts core claim that hormones are the true culprits behind weight gain isnt true. Multiple factors can contribute to weight gain, and while there is an ongoing debate about the role that hormones play, experts agree lifestyle is the key factor.
USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the claim for comment.
How Does Estrogen Cause Weight Gain
In addition to being a driving force behind sexual development and reproductive health, estrogen also plays a role in other important bodily functions. This includes bone metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and the way the body stores fat. Estrogen is also known to help regulate brain functioning and mood.
Because estrogen plays such a key role in so many aspects of our health, it only makes sense that our bodies can be sensitive to changes in our estrogen levels.
For example, when estrogen levels are too high in comparison to progesterone , this can trigger the body to produce more insulin. This in turn leads to insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and weight gain. On the other hand, when estrogen levels are too low in comparison to other hormones, this can cause the body to convert more energy into fat in order to keep estrogen levels in balance.
Common symptoms of an estrogen imbalance include mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and even infertility all of which can have an indirect impact on things like how hungry we feel, how much energy we have, and how effective we are at maintaining a healthy weight.
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Hormone Disruptors Exercise And Weight Loss
Unfortunately, many chemicals in the environment can affect our hormones, like Bisphenol A , a so-called hormone disruptor commonly found in can linings and plastics. BPA is associated with a host of negative health effects and can have estrogenic effects bad for men trying to lose weight and stay healthy.
BPA can linger in the body but also comes out in sweat, making exercise a good way to rid the body of this toxic menace . With a home gym, workouts are easy and flexible, and men can make sure they have a variety of exercises available to them.
Why Can Hormones Make It Difficult To Lose Weight
Stressors such as long work days, irregular sleep schedules and poor diet all lead to extreme fluctuations in your hormone balance. Often the real key to losing unwanted belly fat, resolving weight gain, gaining energy, clarity, and a better mood lies with your hormones.
Unfortunately, no amount of exercise or change in diet can impact the way you feel if your hormones are imbalanced.
And whilst your hormones can’t technically be seen, these chemical messages are vital to the longevity of your health. It’s understandable if your weight loss journey feels like an uphill battle if you’re trying to lose weight with hormonal imbalances.
On the one hand, you may feel that a particular diet is an answer to your body composition goals, but if you have hormonal imbalances, this diet could damage your health in the long run.
Plus, hormones are influenced by your emotions as well. Feelings of guilt, shame and an obsession with weight can cause your hormones to spike. Plus, lifestyle changes can cause stress levels to rise, making it hard to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.
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How To Balance Ghrelin Levels
If you have a sneaking suspicion your ghrelin levels are in need of some TLC, here are a couple of ways to balance them:
- Eat adequate amounts of protein. Protein helps you feel full and should be consumed with every meal. Studies show how eating protein promotes healthy ghrelin levels.
- Avoid sugar as much as possible. As you can see by now, consuming too much sugar disrupts hormonal balance, making weight loss seem an impossible feat. Be sure to read labels. If an item contains high-fructose corn syrup, dont buy it. A 2013 study published in Nutritional Diabetes shows how high-fructose corn syrup is one of the primary culprits of imbalance when it comes to hormones and weight gain.
When To See A Doctor For Hormonal Weight Gain
If you have committed to making necessary lifestyle changes to control hormonal weight gain but you are still not making any progress after 3-6 months, it is time to speak with a doctor. They will be able to determine whether or not you may be a fit for something like BHRT or other medical treatments.
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Hormones And Weight Gain After 60
You may have already noticed that as you age it becomes harder to maintain your weight.
But did you know that the culprit could be hormone changes?
Researchers have been looking at hormones role in weight gain after 60, and theyve uncovered some interesting findings.
In todays post, well explore hormonal changes that can cause weight gain after 60 and give you some tips on managing them.
Testosterone The Vicious Cycle Hormone
While testosterone is commonly regarded as the male hormone, women produce it as well. Among its many functions it helps burn fat, strengthens muscles and bones, and increases libido.
The only studies conducted so far on weight gain and testosterone included exclusively men. But those who weighed more had 30% lower testosterone levels than normal, so for men, its worth keeping tabs on your testosterone levels if youre experiencing unexplainable weight gain.
After all, its a vicious cycle thats hard to break: Low testosterone leads to weight gain. And weight gain leads to low testosterone.
For people who are struggling with testosterone levels, staying active is vital. Try to include weight training into your exercise regime. Not only will it help you stave weight off, but also maintain more lean body mass.
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Turning On Your Fat Burning Hormones
Losing and maintaining weight is not just about the food and drink you consume versus the energy you put out.
Although energy balance is important, there are other hormonal factors at play that influence your ability to maintain a healthy weight. These hormones can be positively influenced by your nutrition and lifestyle choices.
The hormone that has the greatest connection to weight gain and disease is insulin specifically too much of it. Even if you are eating the recommended number of daily calories, a diet high in sugar and starchy carbohydrates causes raised insulin levels which can result in weight gain as the cells absorb too much glucose and the body converts this into fat. Conversely, a balanced diet based on lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and some whole grains can help to keep your insulin production and weight in check.
Thyroid function plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy weight. The thyroid hormones stimulate diverse metabolic activities in most tissues, leading to an increase in basal metabolic rate. Yet, hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function, is a major player in weight-loss resistance, affecting one in five women and one in ten men. If you have any concerns about your thyroid function, ask your doctor to check your thyroid function.
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