If you’ve struggled with your weight, the question of “maybe something is wrong with my hormones?” has come up. But what hormones exactly are we talking about? Below we’ve listed out the hormones which can lead to excess weight with a brief explanation of each.
Thyroid: The thyroid could have an entire article devoted to it. To put it simply, the thyroid and the hormones it produces (T3 &T4) are in charge of the body's metabolism. Too much thyroid hormone and you can have unintended weight loss, fast heart rate, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Too little thyroid hormone can lead to problems with weight gain, constipation, dry skin, and swelling in the legs.
Estrogen: Estrogen, helps regulate the bodies fat distribution. Women of childbearing age usually have higher estrogen levels. Estrogen levels begin to go down as women age and post menopausal women may notice increased fat around their abdomen (so called “apple shaped”) and this type of fat distribution is metabolically unhealthy.
Progesterone: In general progesterone is weight neutral unless you are taking a medication called Provera which can cause weight gain. Like other hormones, it is important to have the right balance of progesterone to other sex hormones.
Testosterone: Testosterone is a reproductive hormone found in men and women. It also has many other actions that are far reaching. Low testosterone levels are linked to weight problems, excess body fat, increased waist circumference, and fatigue.
Insulin: Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It is referred to as the “fat storage hormone.” Insulin helps to bring glucose from our blood (sugar from the food we have eaten) into our body such as the muscles, liver, and fat. Insulin helps our body to deal with the sugar and carbohydrates we eat as well as with our fat metabolism. Some people can have insulin resistance--their body is not as sensitive to the insulin, therefore more insulin needs to be made to get the same response--leading to a vicious cycle of excess insulin and weight gain.
Cortisol: Cortisol is sometimes referred to as the “stress hormone.” Cortisol is made in the adrenal glands. Increased cortisol can cause increased weight gain in the face, abdomen, and chest. Increased weight around the abdomen is not good for our metabolic health.
Leptin: Leptin is a hormone produced by our fat cells. When leptin is released in the bloodstream, it should reduce our appetite. Since leptin is produced by fat cells, people with excess fat have higher levels of leptin. Unfortunately, people who are overweight are not as sensitive to leptin and then do not feel full after a meal. This is called leptin resistance.
Ghrelin: Ghrelin is a hormone released by the stomach, sometimes referred to as the “hunger hormone” as it stimulates appetite, increases food intake, and promotes fat storage. Ghrelin has the opposite effect on us than does Leptin above. Like many of the other hormones listed, Ghrelin function may be elevated in those who are overweight and can be reduced with weight loss.
Adiponectin: a hormone also released by the fat cell. Adiponectin reduces inflammation and enhances insulin sensitivity,
As you can tell, hormones are complicated! Abnormalities in any of these hormone levels can cause problems with weight gain or prevent weight loss. Some of these levels can be checked with routine lab work. Reach out to a pillarMD physician if you have questions about your metabolic workup.
Comments