Too Low Estrogen Levels Can Cause Fat Gain

Hormone production and release plays an integral role in maintaining many bodily processes in both men and women. Produced by the endocrine glands, these chemical messengers trigger important functions from metabolism to reproduction. Depending upon the cause of unintentional weight gain, symptoms can differ from person to person. Fluid retention, also known as edema, can cause swelling in the legs, hands, feet, face, or abdominal region. Moreover, certain medications can cause weight gain.

Staying active is also an important lifestyle factor for managing estrogen-related weight gain as well as avoiding processed foods, sodas, and alcohol while eating more fruits and vegetables each day. Sleep research suggests adequate amounts of sleep may help your body regulate sodium and water balance to control hydration levels and minimize water retention that can lead to reduced water weight in the long term.

Caloric intake may matter more to some people than others, but hormone imbalance may matter the most. Check out how the hormones discussed here can impact your ability to lose weight:

• Thyroid – Your thyroid produces hormones that manage how fast or slow you burn calories. Once imbalances occur, it can cause fluid retention, hair loss, depression, and weight gain.
• Leptin – Stored fat can also secrete leptin hormone on its own. Unfortunately, that desensitizes your body to the hormone causing your brain to ignore signals to stop eating.
• Insulin – Any major disruptions to insulin production, release, and absorption usually results in unwanted weight gain and sugar cravings since excess calories are stored as body fat.
• Estrogen – Estrogen levels that are too low, which is common during the menopausal period of a woman’s life, can cause weight gain with stubborn fat deposits.
• Cortisol – Stressors cause your body to release cortisol, a hormone that stimulates your fat and carbohydrate metabolism as well as triggers food cravings.

Restoring and maintaining balance can affect how a person feels on a daily basis, their appetite, and overall weight. If you are struggling with unintentional weight gain, saliva collection for hormone testing can be completed at an MRC weight loss center or in your home. Results can be used to get and keep you feeling your best. Since hormones regulate every system in your body, the list of symptoms from hormonal imbalance that you have may vary greatly from those of someone you know. Hormone balance is significantly impacted by lifestyle factors, such as a lack of quality sleep, physical and mental stressors, or poor eating habits. This means hormonal self-care should be part of your weight loss journey.

MRC saliva tests may help to identify hormonal imbalances in both females or and males at any age.