If you have been experiencing sudden weight gain and are wondering what could be causing it, the answer may be your hormones. Hormones can affect weight gain in several ways, resulting in weight fluctuation more often than you may realize. This can be due to the way they impact the body’s ability to lose weight and maintain a healthy muscle mass.
Hormones also affect how you respond to stress levels and hunger pains, affecting your weight. It is no surprise that as hormones fluctuate, your weight can also fluctuate. Arizona Gynecology Consultants can address both with specially designed women’s health services if you are looking for help obtaining better hormonal health and maintaining a healthy weight.
What Is Hormonal Weight Gain?
So, what is hormonal weight gain, and how is it different from other types of weight gain? Hormonal weight gain occurs due to a hormonal imbalance in the body, which can look different for men and women.
For women, one particular estrogen hormone is usually involved in weight issues. This hormone, known as estradiol, assists in maintaining a healthy metabolism and weight. The production of this hormone lessens once menopause takes place, potentially causing weight gain to occur.
Hormonal weight gain is different from other kinds of weight gain since it is directly caused by a hormonal imbalance in the body. Other kinds of weight gain often result from consuming too many calories and not getting enough physical activity to burn off these calories.
Several causes of hormonal changes are necessary to create hormonal weight gain.
Some of these include conditions such as:
- A thyroid hormone deficiency
- An estrogen imbalance
- High cortisol levels
- A deficiency in a growth hormone
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Getting older
- A body’s resistance to insulin
- Metabolic syndrome
Hormones that Can Cause Hormonal Weight Gain
There are multiple hormonal causes of weight gain, as several hormones are tied to weight. Because of this, there are a myriad of ways hormonal imbalances can affect weight.
Insulin
One primary hormone that affects weight gain is insulin. Insulin plays such a large part in weight fluctuation as it chooses how much fat it will store in the body, affecting its energy levels. When insulin resistance develops, high blood glucose levels, lipid abnormalities, and a higher amount of fat stored in the stomach can occur as a result.
Cortisol
Another hormone, cortisol, also greatly affects weight. This hormone is known as the stress hormone, and when an individual becomes highly stressed, their cortisol levels increase. As a result, losing weight can be much more difficult due to the body’s survival instincts kicking in. When this happens, the body starts producing more fat cells, slowing the rate of your metabolism down. When cortisol levels are high, you may find that you have more abdominal weight.
Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid hormones are also tied to weight gain, as the thyroid gland is directly involved with your metabolism and helps keep a healthy metabolic rate, which is essential for having a healthy weight. When a person’s body is unable to convert T4 into active T3, this means that their metabolism is probably not functioning as it should. A slower metabolism can indicate more difficulty in losing weight.
Estrogen
One of the functions of the hormone estrogen is to maintain a healthy amount of fat stored in the body, but it also affects weight gain when there is a hormonal imbalance. When estrogen levels decrease, especially after menopause, muscle mass can lessen, which can often lead to increased amounts of fat being stored.
Progesterone
Likewise, the hormone progesterone can affect weight gain when there is an imbalance. Because it is linked to metabolism, low levels of progesterone can slow the metabolism down. Too much can result in the body retaining water and an increased appetite.
Testosterone
If there is an imbalance in testosterone, muscle mass decreases, which can slow down the metabolism. Energy levels can also lessen with lower testosterone, and as a result, the motivation to exercise can decrease. Weight gain in the stomach is common when testosterone levels are low.
Leptin
Leptin is a hormone that assists in keeping a person feeling full after they have eaten. Healthy levels of leptin give signals to the brain to feel hungry before eating and to cease the feeling of hunger afterward, as well as increasing energy levels from food intake. If leptin decreases, the body senses that more fuel is necessary. This causes an individual to feel hungry and conserve energy, which may involve the metabolism slowing down due to the body wanting to store fat.
NPY
A hormone that affects appetite and metabolism is neuropeptide Y (NPY). This hormone is created within the brain. The nervous system sends signals to the body that it needs food and lowers energy disbursement if an individual were to be fasting or under stress. Hunger and the motivation to eat stem from NPY functioning as it should.
If there is an imbalance of NPY, you will likely experience more intense hunger pangs, especially if you are under constant stress, as more NPY will be created. This often results in a greater appetite and weight gain, particularly in the abdomen. You may also suffer from more mood swings and irregular menstrual cycles.
GLP-1
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is another hormone that impacts hunger and appetite, potentially causing weight issues. This hormone is created by the gastrointestinal tract once food enters into the intestines. GLP-1 causes you to feel full after eating and distributes insulin to assist in maintaining healthy blood glucose levels.
It also helps in delaying the emptying of the stomach to ensure lower blood glucose levels. With an imbalance of GLP-1, there is a much greater chance of feeling hungry more frequently, experiencing spikes in blood glucose, and weight gain. When GLP-1 levels are balanced, your body stays full longer.
YY
Peptide YY is a hormone that is responsible for lessening the appetite and making you feel full. It also works in the stomach and intestines to slow down food traveling through the digestive tract. When healthy levels of peptide YY exist, a person should have a healthy appetite, eating only enough to satisfy their hunger pangs. If a person has an imbalance of this hormone, they may be more prone to gaining weight, overeating, and an insatiable appetite.
Why Hormone Imbalances Can Make It Hard to Lose Weight
The body produces many different hormones to help support healthy body functions. When one or more hormones are imbalanced, it can result in a variety of health issues. Some of these health issues demonstrate why hormone imbalances can make it hard to lose weight. Hormones act like messengers, giving important information to the body. This information is passed through the bloodstream, alerting the body’s organs and tissues about the functions that they are to perform.
The hormones are part of the endocrine system, which is an integral part of a person’s health. This system is meant to work in synergy as many hormones must contribute to its effectiveness, but it also works slowly. Because of this, it can be difficult to determine if you have a hormonal imbalance. Hormones impact many bodily functions, such as mood, growth, metabolism, and reproduction. When the hormones become imbalanced, this disrupts the body’s normal functions.
Imbalanced hormones can result in a slower metabolism. The metabolic hormones have a direct impact on the metabolism and its functions. If the metabolism slows, then a person’s appetite may increase, energy levels decrease, and weight gain is experienced.
Many hormones impact the metabolism, how much fat is stored in the body, increased appetite, or feeling satisfied or hungry even after eating. This is why maintaining hormonal balance is so important. When an imbalance occurs, it not only disrupts the body’s functions but also makes it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
Eating well and exercising can help manage hormonal balances, as well as your weight. Sometimes, that is not enough, and additional help from the healthcare providers at Arizona Gynecology Consultants may be necessary.
Signs You Might Be Experiencing Hormonal Weight Gain
Many signs can indicate hormone-related weight gain.
This includes:
- Suddenly gaining more weight (especially in the stomach area) without any changes to your diet or exercise routine
- Tiredness
- Changes in mood
- Headaches
- Goiter of the thyroid
- Changes in vision
- Trouble sleeping
- Digestive problems
- Disruptions to your menstrual cycle
- Hair loss or hair growth
- Skin issues such as acne
- Issues experiencing arousal, low libido, and other sexual problems
If you are suffering from one or several of these symptoms, seeking professional evaluation is highly suggested. It can be very difficult to know if you have an imbalance without being evaluated by a healthcare professional, and the right healthcare provider can conduct effective testing to determine the cause of your weight gain as well as the best course of treatment.
Don’t Let Your Hormonal Weight Gain Go Untreated
When hormonal imbalances are not treated properly, additional physical and mental problems can result. One of these issues includes Type 2 diabetes, which becomes more of a risk when you have consistent weight gain struggles.
Hormonal weight gain can also cause infertility issues, as it can cause disruptions in reproductive processes. Mood disorders can also occur, such as depression, anxiety, and frequent changes in mood. Another issue that can develop is hypertension or high blood pressure, as extra weight puts more stress on the heart and the blood vessels.
Diagnosis may involve a physical exam, discussing your medical history to see if there are any underlying conditions, disclosing any medications you are taking, undergoing lab tests to assess hormone levels, a pelvic exam to check for tumors or cysts, or having an ultrasound to check the uterus, ovaries, thyroid or pituitary gland.
Arizona Gynecology Consultants’ Hormonal and Weight Loss Services
At Arizona Gynecology Consultants, we are dedicated to improving women’s healthcare and focusing on our patients’ needs as they address the health of their most personal bodily systems. Every woman is unique and deserves personalized care, and our physicians strive to provide both hormone rebalancing and weight loss help, depending on your needs.
We offer several services to treat all kinds of healthcare issues that women face. This includes hormone testing that can help identify the hormonal imbalances occurring in your body. We then can assist you in finding a treatment that is right for you, including hormone replacement therapy, if necessary.
We can also offer our clients a personalized hormone therapy treatment plan to suit their individual needs. Lifestyle counseling is also available for those looking to improve their health by making effective lifestyle changes. If you are looking to make dietary changes to improve your health, we also provide nutritional support and guidance. With our customized weight management programs, we can help you meet your optimal weight goals and maintain your weight.
Find the Right Treatment for Your Hormone-Related Weight Issues
Since hormones that the body produces play a significant part in how the body functions, it is important to take note when something is amiss and address these hormonal changes as soon as possible. Hormonal imbalances can cause many health issues, slow down your metabolism, prompt your body to store more fat, or increase your appetite, among many other symptoms.
That’s why, if you notice sudden changes in weight without any apparent reason, it’s essential to speak with a healthcare provider. Our healthcare providers will be able to assess the cause of your problem better, determine whether you have any underlying causes, and determine the most effective treatment.
If you’re ready to take control of your health and well-being, our team is here to support you every step of the way. From hormone therapy to personalized weight loss plans, we offer comprehensive women’s healthcare services designed to help you feel your best. Reach out today, and let’s work together toward a healthier, happier you!
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Founder and Medical Director of ARIZONA GYNECOLOGY CONSULTANTS
Dr. Kelly Roy is a specialist in surgical gynecology and advanced laparoscopy (and hysteroscopy). She is a long-time resident of Arizona and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University before finishing her Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Arizona in 1997.
Dr. Roy completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the then “Banner Good Samaritan Hospital” (now Banner University Medical Center), in Phoenix Arizona in 2001.
Well known for her teaching and surgical ability, she is on the faculty at the residency program at both Banner University Medical Center and Saint Joseph’s Hospital in central Phoenix and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix Campus. Dr. Roy has taught advanced surgical techniques to medical students, residents, fellows and colleagues for over 15 years.
Dr. Roy is also a consultant to the medical device industry and has participated in the design and clinical testing of many instruments and surgical devices available on the world-wide market today.
Read More About Dr. Kelly Roy, MD | WebMD Profile | Health.USNews.com Profile | Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports: TFA with the Sonata System
