The process of trying to shed some weight is indeed very tough and this goal can be achieved only through the use of diet, exercise, and other mechanisms. Perpetually, it is not easy for some people even after they have established discipline in the process of losing that extra weight. One of the root causes that put a lot of stress on the process of weight loss can be hormonal imbalance. Hormones are the chemical agents of the body that discipline a variety of activities in the body including metabolic rate, food intake, and fat deposition. When the above-stated hormones are imbalanced, they get in the way of your weight loss efforts, denying you the desired figure despite intense efforts. This information will help you comprehend how hormones are linked to weight issues so that you can overcome difficulties in hormone imbalance weight loss.
Role of hormones in weight management
Insulin, cortisol, thyroid hormones, estrogen, and testosterone help in controlling the weight. These include determining how food is metabolized within the body, the energy reserve utilization, and fat deposition. Hormones can easily control such factors that deal with body weight when they are well-balanced in the human body. However, when the two get out of balance, several activities and functions within the body including putting on weight or struggling to shed some extra pounds may be affected. So, it becomes important to join a hormone weight loss program for the best results.
Insulin resistance and weight gain
This is a natural chemical substance called insulin secreted by the pancreas to control sugar levels in the body. They enable cells in the body to take up this glucose from the blood by transporting it and letting it use it for energy or convert the glucose to fat. However, one fails to realize that when the body is unable to respond or use the insulin effectively, cases being lifestyle and diet filled with refined sugars and carbohydrates, then blood sugar levels rise. The moderate latter then triggers the pancreas to secrete more insulin in an attempt to control these levels, but the extra insulin contributes to fat creation, specifically obese stomach fat.
Cortisol: The Stress Hormone
Cortisol is also another hormone that may greatly affect weight. Released by the adrenal glands cortisol is more popularly referred to as the ‘stress hormone’ because the body releases it in additional amounts in response to stress. In the short run, cortisol is helpful to the body in stress management since it enhances the blood sugar levels and reduces the stimuli built up for other non-vital processes. Nonetheless, when stress reaches a chronic state, cortisol levels persist and cause multiple undesirable effects on the body one of which is weight gain.
Therefore, elevated cortisol causes hunger and a desire for sweet and fatty foods. Further, cortisol increases appetite for fat storage, especially in the abdominal cavity which is common in heart diseases and other metabolic complications. This makes it very hard for one to drop a dress size even if they adopt healthy eating habits and exercise.
Estrogen and Weight Distribution
Again, estrogen, a hormone that is closely linked to women’s reproductive cycle, also helps to control people’s weight and fat. However, estrogen affects body weight only in normal-weight women and this happens in the reproductive years to retain body fat and distribute it appropriately. However, estrogen level during the menopausal process is reduced, and this implies that there are bound to be changes in the body weight composition.
Due to such changes, weight loss women after menopause are likely to accumulate fat around the abdomen, also known as ‘ menopausal weight gain ’ which in itself makes it difficult to lose weight and increases the propensity of developing other diseases such as insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, and many others. Low levels of testosterone have the same effect on men for the same reason as this hormone is also used for the regulation of fat and two muscular tissues.
The Role of Leptin and Ghrelin in Hunger and Satiety
Leptin and ghrelin are hormones that govern the appetite of an individual and are linked to the energy balance. Leptin is known as the ‘satiety hormone” which is secreted by fat cells and is an indicator to the brain that there is stored energy therefore reducing the feeling of hunger. Nevertheless, for some people especially in the category of obesity, the body becomes less sensitive to leptin signaling and this is referred to as Leptin resistance. This is because even when the fat stores appear to be satisfactory, the brain does not get the message that it is time to stop eating and thus food intake increases leading to overeating.
Contrarily ghrelin which is referred to as the hunger hormone, is secreted by the stomach and gets the signal to the brain to eat when the stomach is empty. Stress and for that matter any hormonal fluctuation is also known to affect the balance of leptin and ghrelin in the body and therefore leads to increased hunger, cravings, and even difficulties in losing weight.
Wrapping Up
Hormonal imbalances pose a problem for weight loss and can negate your efforts in the bid to get your desired health condition. Since hormones such as insulin, cortisol, estrogen, leptin, and ghrelin act within obesity, it is requisite to address the problems caused by hormones at weight loss facilities near me. All you need is to find them and start the program. You can even try the woodland hills weight loss centers as they are tried and tested.
