You've probably heard that hormones play a role in the storage of body fat. But what specific hormones are involved, and how can you influence your weight and body fat without compromising your hormonal health?
Hormones are your body's chemical messengers that help regulate everything from metabolism and appetite to fertility and your mood. When hormones are out of balance, they can wreak havoc on your entire system—including weight gain.
Hormones and types of imbalances affecting body fat storage:
- Thyroid gland
- Insulin
- Estrogen
- Testosterone
- Cortisol
Thyroid gland
Let's start with the endocrine organ that most influences body fat storage and weight changes: the thyroid. This is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck that produces hormones that regulate body temperature, heart rate, maintain proper cholesterol levels, and control metabolism .
Metabolism is the process by which nutrients from food are converted into energy for your body. Thyroid hormones can directly affect the storage of body fat, i.e. excess energy that the body is not currently using.
Weight gain and resistance to weight loss are common symptoms of hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland . Women suffering from hormonal imbalances often experience symptoms of underactive thyroid; in addition to fluctuating body weight, typical symptoms include :
- Cold hands and feet
- Sensitivity to cold
- Excessive hair loss
- Lack of energy
- Anxiety, feelings of nervousness
- Sleep disorders
Genetics or an autoimmune condition may play a role in the health of your thyroid gland, but common factors that threaten its function include insufficient energy intake , excessive exercise , nutrient deficiencies , and overall stress levels .
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use glucose (blood sugar) for energy. When you eat a meal containing carbohydrates, your pancreas releases insulin, which moves blood sugar into your cells and tissues, where the glucose is used as energy.
Insulin resistance is a condition where cells become resistant to insulin and do not take in blood sugar. Blood sugar levels remain high, and the pancreas responds by releasing more insulin. Too much glucose in the blood is eventually stored as fat .
However, the cause is not carbohydrates per se, and there is no reason to give them up right away. Insulin resistance often occurs due to an inappropriately composed diet with a high content of industrially processed foods, but long-term stress or irregularity in diet can also lead to the aforementioned metabolic problems.
Estrogen
Estrogen is one of the hormones that controls the menstrual cycle and is also responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system. It also contributes to bone, brain and heart health, and supports muscle growth. Estrogen makes us women .
However , too much estrogen in the body or an imbalance between it and progesterone can have a negative impact on your weight and body fat storage. This hormonal state can be the result of high stress levels, impaired liver function, or intestinal dysbiosis. In addition to estrogen promoting fat storage in the body, adipose tissue can also produce some estrogen itself, so women with estrogen dominance often find themselves in a vicious cycle.
Other symptoms indicating estrogen dominance:
- Water retention
- Breast tenderness or pain
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Premenstrual syndrome
Weight gain during perimenopause
Estrogen dominance may be one reason for your weight fluctuations. But why do women often gain weight around menopause, when estrogen levels drop?
This is because the body is trying to find other sources of estrogen than the one produced by the ovaries. Estrogen stores are found in fat cells, and the body often starts converting more calories into fat to have something to draw from. In addition, fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones during perimenopause can stimulate appetite.
Testosterone
Testosterone is commonly associated with men, but it also plays an essential role in women. It plays a role in metabolism, and women with low testosterone levels may have difficulty losing weight . In addition to weight fluctuations, low production of this androgen in women is also usually manifested by decreased sexual desire, lack of energy, and menstrual cycle disorders.
However, too high testosterone production is not optimal either. The level of androgens is closely related to insulin sensitivity , as seen in women with PCOS . Typical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome are excessive hair loss, and conversely, the growth of darker hair, anovulatory cycles or excessive fat retention, especially in the middle of the body.
Cortisol
Last but not least, we move on to cortisol, which is where it all usually starts. Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. When you find yourself in danger, your brain gives the order and the adrenal glands start releasing cortisol. This hormone is designed to prioritize certain functions essential for survival , and conversely, it suppresses bodily processes that you can do without for a while, or that would otherwise prevent you from actively defending or attacking (such as digestion).
This ability of the body to adapt to external conditions and survive at all costs is irreplaceable. However, if the threat does not go away and the stress persists for a long time, the body continues to prioritize the production of cortisol over other hormones, just as the functions necessary for rapid defense or flight remain a priority.
Chronic stress can disrupt certain bodily processes . Often, this is the thyroid gland that is affected, or it can affect the menstrual cycle and the balance of estrogen and progesterone. There are many ways in which cortisol affects the health of other hormones.
On the other hand, long-term stress can itself disrupt your relationship with food : Some people can't even eat a bite when stressed, while others find food their only comfort at the moment, so they often eat to cope with their problems and emotions. In both cases, this can lead to (and not only) weight fluctuations.
Possible signs that stress is the primary cause of your problems are:
- Nervousness, anxiety
- Frequent forgetfulness, brain fog
- Loss of menstruation or irregular cycle
- Frequent need to urinate
- Reduced hunger and appetite or, conversely, emotional eating, binge eating
However, it does not end with the mentioned hormones, but it will suffice as a basis for explaining how hormones affect weight loss and weight gain. In the next article, we will look at how weight loss is related to hormonal health, and whether it is enough to follow the well-known advice: Just eat less and exercise more .
Are you experiencing any of the symptoms of hormonal imbalance or have a question about your health? Contact our Femvie experts who will create an individual plan based on your medical history, lab results, symptom monitoring, cycle analysis and a 90 min. initial consultation. Our experts will give you a complete assessment of your health condition and will continuously support you so that you achieve results.
