Weight loss is conditioned not only by a healthy diet and exercise but by the influence of body hormones as well. If you regularly workout and maintain a healthy diet but still lack the weight loss results, you might consider the impact of the hormones. Hormonal changes can affect weight fluctuations. In further text, abortion clinic Fort Lauderdale experts will review the link between hormones and body functions, to reveal how they condition the body weight. The common hormones that have the most influence on weight gain:
Estrogen
Estrogen is a female hormone associated with the reproductive system that regulates many cycles in a woman’s body. Fluctuations of estrogen are expected throughout the lifetime, its levels highly rise in puberty and decline in menopause. At young ages, estrogen is responsible for triggering puberty and gaining fat on the hips and thighs while affecting the body shape.
Lack of estrogen can cause increased fat storage and difficulties in losing weight. The drop in estrogen during menopause accumulates visceral fat, the fat lodged in deep abdominal layers, which is why many women turn to supplements like https://magnoliaweightloss.com/blog/supplements-for-menopause-belly-fat/ for added support. These options may help balance hormones and improve the body’s ability to manage fat more efficiently.
Testosterone
Testosterone is the hormone accrued in both males and females. This hormone stimulates muscle formation while inhibiting body fat. People with a lower level of testosterone have less muscle mass and more body fat. Testosterone levels in men naturally drop by 5%-10% per decade, starting from the mid-20s. This explains the spontaneous gain in visceral fat in men. Men suffering from symptoms of low testosterone can look into Testosterone replacement therapy at an ED clinic, which can help in raising testosterone levels back to normal levels for your age. Sex hormone-binding globulin protein (SHBG) carries testosterone through body tissues. SHBG reduction can be influenced by insulin resistance, provoking the body to surge weight.
Leptin
Leptin is the hormone responsible for the feeling of fullness. Leptin functions as an alert in the body. When body fat increases, leptin levels perform with reduced appetite and boosted metabolism. Risen level of leptin signals the brain to discharge fat. On the other hand, when the body loses fat, leptin sends signals to the brain that it has emerged from starvation, promoting appetite and slowing down the metabolism.
People with obesity have reduced sensitivity to leptin, a consequence of difficulty in losing or maintaining weight, while leptin deficiency is extremely rare.
Ghrelin
Ghrelin is a “hunger hormone” that regulates your feeling of hunger. As secreted by the stomach, it sends a signal to the brain area’s hypothalamus, which is responsible for hunger, to encourage appetite and craving food intake.
Insulin
Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas. It regulates energy balance and blood sugar after eating by carrying excess sugar into muscle and fat cells. At an increased level, this hormone also signals the brain to reduce food intake. The disbalance of insulin affects the body in two ways: insulin sufficiency can lead to weight gain, and insulin deficit causes serious health problems.
Cortisol
Cortisol is also known as the “stress hormone” because it’s triggered by stress. It is responsible for the body’s stress response. The level of cortisol rises with chronicled stress, which results in increased appetite, fat distribution in the abdominal area, and consequently, the addition of visceral fat. That is why cortisol is commonly linked to a bigger waistline.
Hormones control metabolism, hunger, and fat distribution, so their role in losing weight should not be neglected. Checking hormonal levels can help lose weight, in addition to your weight loss program, as their disbalance might be the key to more or less fat storage in your body. Keep your hormones balanced with physical activity, a healthy diet, enough sleep, and avoiding stress.