Understanding Hormonal Weight Gain
W&S Health and Wellness Team
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We saw this amazing TikTok from @gaugegirltraining (check out her content!) and got inspired to make this article about hormonal weight gain.
@gaugegirltraining If your body is more apple shaped you most likely have imbalanced hormones🍎 There are several things you CAN do about this, and unfortunately arbitrarily eating less and exercising more isn’t always the answer. When fat gain is hormonal, those fat cells release chemical messengers signaling the body to store more fat and shift your fat distribution pattern to the abdomen as opposed to the hips. DM “reset” if you have an apple shape and are ready to make improvements today ✔️ #hormones #health #womenshealth #menopause #wellness #hormonebalance #healthylifestyle #pcos #hormonehealth #nutrition #weightloss #testosterone #perimenopause #women #fertility #hormoneimbalance #fitness #hrt #selfcare #thyroid #functionalmedicine #endometriosis #healthy #pms #holistichealth #estrogen #guthealth #appleshape #pregnancy #gaugegirltraining ♬ original sound - Nutritionist & Hormone Expert
To put it simply, hormonal weight gain is weight gain associated with hormonal imbalances. Your weight and hormones are directly related. As we approach conscious living, we often tend to forget this critical part of our health. If you or someone you know is trying to maintain a healthy weight, the hormone factor shouldn’t be put on the back burner.
What Is Hormonal Weight Gain?
Hormonal weight gain refers to the phenomenon wherein fluctuations in hormone levels can lead to changes in body weight. This concept has been a subject of scientific inquiry for decades, with early research dating back to the mid-20th century. The discovery of hormones such as insulin, leptin, ghrelin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones shed light on the intricate mechanisms governing metabolism, appetite regulation, and energy balance within the human body.
Hormonal imbalances, whether due to natural physiological changes, medical conditions, or external factors, can disrupt these processes, leading to alterations in fat storage, appetite, and energy expenditure. Understanding hormonal weight gain is crucial as it underscores the complex interplay between endocrine function and body weight regulation. By elucidating the role of hormones in influencing metabolic pathways, researchers aim to develop targeted interventions for addressing weight-related health issues and improving overall well-being.
What Causes Hormonal Weight Gain?
For those with a penis, this weight gain is often attributed to increases in hormones such as cortisol due to increased stress levels.
When the body is stressed, it works in overdrive, going into survival mode. When the body is in survival mode, it reacts as if it doesn’t know when your next meal will come. The body, therefore, increases fat cells and slows the metabolism so that extra food can be stored for later. Hence, weight gain is a result.
While this process is typical for those with vaginas, other factors are at play. For instance, people with vaginas produce a hormone called estradiol, which helps regulate weight and metabolism. During menopause, this hormone reduces in the body and can cause weight gain.
Women with vaginas should also be cognisant of their estrogen levels. Estrogen, produced in the ovaries, stores fat for reproduction. This is why pregnant women tend to have higher levels of estrogen. However, when women’s estrogen levels are too high and are not pregnant, this may lead to weight gain.
Another hormone to consider regardless of sex is insulin. Insulin is made by the pancreas and is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels and fat storage. When you eat a meal, insulin is released into the bloodstream and therefore decides how much energy from your food to use or keep for later.
Thus, balancing insulin is very important for your health. Insulin imbalances such as these are responsible for causing weight gain and, if left unchecked, chronic diseases like Type 2 Diabetes.
Hormones leptin and ghrelin are also essential to think about. These hormones communicate with your brain, telling you when to eat. Leptin is an appetite suppressant hormone often released after eating, telling your brain you’re full. On the other hand, ghrelin is the hormone released before you eat, telling your brain it’s hungry.
A healthy person typically has lower ghrelin and higher leptin levels after a meal. However, overweight people tend to have their leptin and ghrelin levels be out of whack. The brain will have trouble knowing when it’s full and when it’s hungry, leading to eating patterns that are not consistent with what the body actually needs to nourish itself.
Symptoms Of Hormonal Weight Gain
Hormonal weight gain can look very different on different people, depending on what is causing it. However, there are some things you might want to look out for in tandem with your weight gain:
Fatigue
Irritability
Mood Swings
Hair Loss
Palpitations
Bloating
Acne
Headaches
Proximal Muscle Weakness
Moon Face
Amenorrhea Or Impotence
Galactorrhea
It should be noted that having some of these symptoms with weight gain may not be abnormal. For people who menstruate, hormone changes and weight gain can happen throughout the month.
However, suppose you have these symptoms outside of your period cycle, and they are persistent. In that case, it might be a sign of a hormonal imbalance which is unhealthy.
Causes, Diagnosis, And Treatment Of Hormonal Weight Gain
Hormonal weight gain has many causes. Some risk factors that have been identified to cause hormonal imbalances leading to weight gain include: genetic makeup, living a sedentary lifestyle, aging, and hypothalamic/pituitary tumors or surgeries.
Other causes of hormonal weight can be attributed to other health problems. This can include things such as: thyroid hormone deficiency, estrogen dominance, PCOS, and metabolic syndrome.
If you are someone you know suspects they are suffering from hormonal weight gain, it is suggested that they seek out an endocrinologist. Endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in understanding hormones. For this reason, they would be your best bet in finding out if your symptoms are actually caused by hormonal imbalances.
Your general practitioner, like an endocrinologist, might be able to diagnose your hormonal imbalance through a physical exam, such as an imaging test or ovarian ultrasound, along with your blood test. Still, these tests don’t always paint a complete picture, and endocrinologists are trained to see any possible nuances.
Once you get a professional medical opinion that what you’re dealing with is hormonal weight gain, you are most likely going to be given a personalized treatment plan. If your weight gain results from hormone excess or resistance, you might be given medications.
Thyroid hormone replacement, OCPs, and testosterone replacement may be offered to you. Another part of treatment, probably the most obvious, would be suggestions for dietary and lifestyle changes that increase your amounts of whole foods and exercise while reducing your stressors.
The general rule of thumb is to commit to a regular, low-impact exercise routine, eat as many vegetables as you can with every meal, eat foods high in fiber, reduce your amounts of processed and sugary foods, get a restorative full night of sleep on a regular basis, and try integrating a stress-relief practice into your everyday routine!
