Stress Hormones Impact Weight Control

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Hormones tell your body what to do and when to do it. Your brain sends out chemical messengers that blend with your blood plasma and travel to specific receptors throughout your body. But, they only target cells that can respond to their message.

The production and release of hormones decrease with age, and a decline in response by cell receptors can contribute to weight gain and weight loss resistance. It's clear that balancing them is crucial for overall well-being.

Hormonal weight gain affects men and women differently. Men tend to gain weight around the abdomen, while women gain weight around the hips and thighs. Hormone therapy during menopause may help reduce excess body fat around the waist. Imbalances in hormones can lead to fatigue, weight gain, itchy skin, and low mood. Dysfunction can impact both glands and organs. For example, pituitary adenomas can cause excess growth hormone to be released in adults.

Test Hormones to Identify Imbalances

Evaluating hormone levels can assist in identifying any imbalances in thyroid, reproductive, and stress hormones, all of which can impact weight management. Discussed below are the most common culprits for sudden weight gain and difficulty in losing unwanted pounds, including:

Estrogen: As a woman enters menopause, her body produces less estrogen. This decrease in hormone becomes critical to her bone health and can lead to osteoporosis, where bones and cartilage become more fragile and porous.

Progesterone: By reducing harmful inflammation, balanced progesterone hormone can make it easier for you to eat in moderation and manage weight for healthy living.

Testosterone: Testosterone is generally considered to be a male sex hormone that is often linked to changes in libido and proper erectile function. But, it is one of the key hormones in both men and women. However, women make and use much less.

Insulin: Insulin increases feelings of hunger and in turn promotes fat storage, especially in the abdominal area. So, better managing blood sugar levels can reduce insulin release to help decrease belly fat over time. Exercise can lower circulating insulin levels and encourage you liver to use visceral fat deposits.

Cortisol: Cortisol is an essential hormone that helps you deal with stress, but excessive or prolonged exposure to cortisol can have negative effects on your health. By understanding how cortisol affects your body and taking steps to manage it, can improve your overall health.

Thyroid Hormone: It's important to note that even mild cases of hypothyroidism may increase the risk of weight gain and obesity. However, taking measures to support healthy thyroid function can help regain control of one's body, leading to a positive change in appearance and overall well-being.

Allowing unexpected hormonal weight gain to go untreated increases your risks of developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep disturbances, heart disease and certain types of cancer. In addition, imbalances can contribute to mental health problems as well.

Consuming overly processed foods with added sugar and fat is closely linked to hormonal imbalance and weight gain from unsightly fat storage. If you have experienced unexplained weight gain, it may be time to contact Metabolic Research Center for help.

Our MRC Hormone Test Kit is easy to use and can help you achieve your goals for healthy living.