Key Hormones Influence Fat Gain

“MRC Conway: How Metabolism Impacts Fat Storage Regulators”

There are many naturally-produced chemical messengers that impact weight loss and unintended fat gain, including leptin, ghrelin, insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones. They collectively act as key regulators of metabolism and determine whether you are hungry or not, as well as manage energy utilization. Not surprisingly, hormonal disruptions can cause imbalances that lead to metabolic dysfunction, increased food cravings, and accumulation of stubborn fat deposits.

Leptin is produced by your fat cells to signal fullness to the brain, but too much of the satiety hormone can lead to leptin resistance, which usually results in overeating. Ghrelin, on the other hand, is known as the hunger hormone and signals that the stomach is empty, but too much of it and you can’t seem to fill up. The insulin produced by your pancreas helps manage blood sugar, but insulin resistance hinders weight loss and promotes fat storage.

The stress hormone cortisol affects both men and women by triggering cravings for high-calorie foods that can provide a burst of energy, but if it is not needed, excess cortisol is known to increase storage of visceral fat in the abdominal region of your body. Since thyroid hormones control the speed of your metabolism by adjusting your basal metabolic rate (BMR), low levels can result in weight loss resistance, especially with obesity. Gut hormones like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) slow digestion and naturally reduce daily calorie intake.

Emerging hormonal research on a master regulator gene...

Researchers at Osaka University in Japan identified a gene (HSP47), which acts as a master regulator of body fat storage. It is a collagen-specific molecular chaperone that is a key determinant of an individual’s level of body fat. In fact, HSP47 expression naturally increases with overeating and obesity. Conversely, it decreases with fasting, exercise, caloric restriction, bariatric surgery, and cachexia, which is a metabolic wasting syndrome linked to chronic illnesses. The study revealed that whether a person is lean or fat depends on a host of factors but family history clearly plays a role. Nonetheless, expression levels of the HSP47 gene are upregulated with adiposity. Scientist now see fat as a unique tissue that is affected by numerous nutritional, molecular, and hormonal factors. In other related research, inhibition of GPR75 gene may protect against diet-induced obesity, although its exact role in energy regulation remains unclear.

HOW PROTEIN FIRST MEALS IMPACT HORMONE BALANCE

Eating a protein-first meal, especially within an hour of waking up in the mornings, can significantly impact hormone balance by stabilizing blood sugar levels, reducing stress hormone cortisol, and regulating appetite hormones like ghrelin and leptin. Since consuming sources of lean protein can lower insulin and boost satiety hormones like GLP-1, this macronutrient promotes sustained energy, improves metabolic wellbeing, and even helps regulate menstrual cycles.

Adequate protein intake provides your body with the raw materials like amino acids that are needed to synthesize and process many essential messengers. In addition, the liver requires specific amino acids from protein to detox and clear out used hormones like estrogen, which naturally helps to prevent imbalances. Experts say consuming the right amount of protein at the right time of day can prevent insulin spikes, reduce hunger, promote long-term satiety, eliminate blood sugar crashes, and provide building blocks for producing thyroid hormones.

High-quality sources of lean protein that help to stabilize hormone production for better weight control include fatty fish (salmon), eggs, Greek yogurt, lentils, legumes, tempeh, and lean meats like chicken or turkey. Moreover, combining proteins with fiber-rich leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables aid balancing insulin hormone release and removing of excess estrogen that impact fat storage and unintended weight gain. Researchers suggest an individual should aim for 25–30 grams of protein per meal to help lower production of hunger hormones.

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Fat storage regulators are the biological and chemical signaling systems that include hormones, enzymes, and genes that coordinate how an individual’s body stores energy as fat and when it releases fat for fuel. With that said, unlike neurotransmitters that transmit chemical signals rapidly within the nervous systems, hormones slowly travel through the bloodstream to regulate long-term metabolic processes throughout the body. If you’re trying to decide whether a prescription-based weight loss plan or a more holistic metabolic weight loss program is right for you, contact MRC Conway today. One of our weight loss coaches will be in touch to discuss how hormone imbalances, genetic factors and key lifestyle habits may have slowed your metabolism and led to unintended weight gain. After all, hormonal balance can be restored and disrupted metabolic rates can be reset with a personalized approach.