Not all weight gain is due to eating more calories than you burn. Many people struggle with maintaining a healthy weight, even when they are eating right and exercising. There are multiple factors that can impact your metabolism, including various hormones in your body. If you are trying to lose weight with a hormonal imbalance, you could be fighting a losing battle. Here’s what you need to know about how hormones impact your metabolism and how a hormonal imbalance can cause weight gain.
Hormones are involved in controlling many different systems in the body, sending chemical signals that can trigger different responses. Hormones help control metabolism by regulating the thyroid; cortisol is another hormone involved in sugar levels and cravings. In addition, the “sex” hormones like estrogen and testosterone can impact your metabolism, as well as your energy levels. Here are some types of imbalances that can impact your body weight.
Low Testosterone
Reduced levels of testosterone can impact your body in many different ways. Men with low testosterone may feel sluggish and notice a change in their libido; they also may have unexplained weight gain. Testosterone therapy can restore the right hormone levels, increasing energy and restoring a healthy metabolism.
Cortisol Imbalance
Both men and women can be affected by too much cortisol in their system, causing sugar cravings and other issues. Cortisol is a “stress” hormone that is meant to help the body cope in dangerous situations, increasing sugar levels to supply quick energy. Unfortunately, high levels of cortisol can also cause sugar crashes, low energy, appetite increase and weight gain.
Thyroid Dysfunction
The thyroid is crucial for maintaining a healthy metabolism. You do not need to suffer from thyroid disease to notice a change in your metabolism. A “sluggish” metabolism can occur when thyroid hormones are low, causing weight gain or hindering your ability to lose weight.
Estrogen Imbalance
Both low and high estrogen levels can cause havoc with the metabolism. Conditions like endometriosis that cause high estrogen levels can lead to weight gain; menopause and other conditions that reduce estrogen can also be linked to weight gain. Finding hormonal balance can help manage metabolism.
If your weight is fluctuating up even with a healthy diet and exercise, hormonal imbalance could be affecting your metabolism. At Arcadia Wellness Center, we offer hormonal testing and hormone therapy to help you achieve hormonal balance. To learn more about weight gain from hormone imbalance, call our clinic in Phoenix to schedule an appointment with our hormone specialist.