Many factors cause weight gain. Diet and exercise certainly play a role. So too do things like sleep quality and stress. Genetics also play a role, though lifestyle choices may serve to counter weight gain, even in people with a family history of obesity.
Poor sleep, chronic stress, a sedentary lifestyle, and a diet high in processed and sugary foods can cause hormone fluctuations. These lifestyle choices can significantly impact the hormones that influence appetite, metabolism, and body fat distribution.
The sex hormones estrogen and testosterone both play a role in weight stability. Deficiencies in these hormones can also result in a loss of muscle mass, further impacting physical health and ability. In addition to sex hormones, fluctuating levels of leptin, which helps control the appetite, and insulin, which regulates blood sugar, directly impact weight.
Leptin is produced by fat cells. Overweight individuals have too much leptin, which desensitizes the body to its primary function of appetite suppression. Insulin resistance prevents the body from controlling glucose levels and interferes with energy distribution. Issues surrounding insulin are also more common in overweight individuals. However, aging is the most common cause of sex hormone decline, making estrogen and testosterone levels more difficult to control through dietary changes and increased exercise.
Balancing Hormones
You can help to balance your hormones by:
- Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet
- Getting at least seven hours of sleep a night
- Committing to a consistent exercise regimen
- Taking steps to reduce stress
These steps can help to balance your hormones naturally and without assistance, but they are not always enough to fully address the problem, particularly where age-related hormone loss has occurred. In these cases – and those that fail to resolve with at-home efforts – bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may be the best option.
BHRT works to balance hormone levels in both men and women. When administered in pellet form, BHRT provides a consistent release of hormones, helping to address deficiencies along with the symptoms, such as weight loss, which a hormone imbalance may cause. Safe and time-tested, BHRT can serve as a wonderful complement to enhanced exercise and improved diet, helping to balance hormones and allowing patients to achieve a sustainable and healthy weight for life.
BHRT is only available through physicians. If you want to learn more about hormone replacement therapy and other weight management tools, please use our provider locater to find a qualified healthcare provider in your area today.
