How Estradiol And Other Forms Of Estrogen Can Cause Weight Gain
Estrogen is a vital hormone that is produced in a womans body. There are three different kinds of estrogen, each with its own specific function.
- Estradiol is the main estrogen produced during childbearing years.
- Estrone is the second most prevalent type of estrogen thats produced during the childbearing years.
- Estriol is the pregnancy hormone.
A woman who is receiving hormone replacement therapy can experience weight gain as a side effect. This is especially true when the ratio of estrogen to other hormones is too high. It is crucial that a health professional monitor these levels to achieve a proper balance.
When the hormone levels drop, usually due to menopause, weight levels can fluctuate. When estradiol levels drop, the result may be weight gain.
It is important to understand how fluctuating levels of estrogen hormones affect your body.
Weight Loss Helps Reduce Frequency Of Hot Flashes Night Sweats
That doesnt have to be downer news, however. Past research has shown that women who lost at least 10 lb through a healthier diet over the course of a year were significantly more likely to see hot flashes and night sweats disappear compared with those who didnt lose weight. That small weight loss can also decrease your heart disease risk, Dr. Pinkerton notes.
To determine if this hormone therapy is right for you, Pinkerton notes that the treatment is safe for women who start it at menopause, especially for women under 60 or who are within 10 years of menopause.
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Whats more, if women are over 65 and already using hormone therapy for symptoms, Pinkerton says theres no evidence to suggest they stop. Certainly, any of these situations warrant a conversation with your doctor to assess the benefits and risks for you.
Your Low Testosterone Levels Are Slowing Down Your Metabolism
You are confronted with an astounding number of toxins each day, including pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified foods, and about six different synthetic hormones in meat. Toxins are lurking in face creams, prescription drugs, processed foods, your lipstick, the linings of tuna fish cans, the fire-retardant materials in couches, and even the air you breathe. The list goes on.
Many types of these toxins, such as pesticides, plastics, and industrial chemicals, behave like estrogen when absorbed in the body. Experts believe that our increasing exposure to toxins helps explain why so many girls are entering puberty earlier and why many boys exhibit feminine characteristics such as developing breasts. Xeno-estrogens, as these particular toxins are called, have been associated with an elevated risk of estrogen-driven diseases like breast and ovarian cancers and endometriosis.
All this fake estrogen overwhelms your bodyâs testosteronewhich is vital for hormone balanceand contributes to estrogen overload. Testosterone contributes to muscle growth, which in turn supports metabolism. And, as we already know, estrogen overload raises insulin insensitivity. The combination adds pounds to your frame: A study from Sweden published in the journal Chemosphere showed that exposure to a particular type of pesticide called organochloride was linked to a weight gain of 9½ pounds over 50 years.
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How Is Hormonal Weight Gain Different
When weight gain is the result of hormones, simple shifts in diet and exercise habits arent always enough, and a medical diagnosis is needed to identify the source and prescribe correct treatment.
Hormones are your bodys chemical messengers, controlling such important elements as growth, sexual function, reproduction, metabolism and even your mood. And changes in these hormones can sometimes result in unexpected and uncontrollable weight gain. A few examples include:
Estrogen shifts. During menopause, a decrease in estrogen is linked to lower muscle mass and increased fat stores for women, usually around the midsection. Conversely, higher than normal estrogen levels can cause endometriosis, fibroids or menstrual bloating.
Testosterone decreases. For both men and women, a decrease in testosterone means reduction in muscle mass, which lowers the bodys metabolic rate, resulting in increased body fat.
Increased androgens. In women, an increase in hormones called androgens is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome , which not only interferes with fertility but can cause cysts and weight gain.
Diabetes. Treating diabetes can cause weight gain if your daily prescribed insulin intake is higher than the energy you burn each day.
Thyroid deficiency. Underactive thyroid, also called hypothyroidism, slows the bodys ability to burn calories.
How Is Hormonal Weight Gain Diagnosed
An evaluation with an endocrinologist can help determine if a hormonal condition is the underlying cause of weight gain. Declining estrogen, adrenal disorders, hormonal resistance, thyroid imbalance, and several other hormonal imbalances can lead to weight gain. Laboratory tests give endocrinologists insight to hormonal imbalances when combined with your symptoms and presentation, but it doesnt always tell the whole story. Blood and urine results can be influenced by many things. For this reason, we suggest special evaluations to see how metabolic information relates to the lab data.
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What Are Hormones And Why Do They Impact My Weight
Hormones control metabolism, where fat is deposited, overall appetite, and weight balance. The most effective way to get hormones back on track, stop the scale creep, and return to a healthy weight is to correct hormonal imbalances with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy . BHRT is made from yams and is identical to the hormones our body naturally makes. Once hormones are back in balance, weight loss can begin.
Hormone regulation is complicated because the bodys hormones are all interconnected. The bodys hormone systems must all work in harmony and continually rebalance in response to physical and emotional events in your life. Peri- and menopause are the phases where women will experience huge drops in hormone levels. Those drops are normal, but the symptoms of low hormones can be debilitating and lead to lifelong medical complications.
Menopause weight gain, or also called hormonal weight gain, is a struggle that very few talks about. At the age of 40, most women dont want to think about menopause but meanwhile, the hormones that regulate weight are spiraling down. Ignoring what is happening is not a method to prevent weight gain. Weight loss after 40 is possible. By understanding the true source of weight gain, women can shed excess weight and prevent further weight gain ultimately helping women to feel happier and healthier.
Which Hormone Makes You Gain Weight Estrogen Or Progesterone
Progesterone itself likely does not cause weight gain. However, changes in hormone levels throughout your cycle can affect your appetite and make it feel as though you may be gaining weight. During the first half of your cycle, estrogen inhibits food intake and your hunger levels may be lower than normal.
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Bioidentical Hormones Can Contribute To Weight Loss In Some Cases
Contrary to popular belief, bioidentical hormones are not an instant weight loss solution. These medications were designed to address symptoms related to menopause, andropause, or hormone disorders. Significantly, estrogen, testosterone, and other hormones are powerful chemicals that have far-reaching effects throughout the body. While certain medications may have an impact on your appetite or metabolism, theyre not designed to facilitate quick and easy weight loss.
The reason bioidentical hormones are so commonly equated with weight loss is that hormone imbalances can result in plenty of weight-related problems. Men with low testosterone and women with PCOS, for example, may experience stubborn weight gain that doesnt seem to respond to typical diet and exercise strategies. Hypothyroidism is another common contributing factor to weight gain.
In some cases, supplementing with the hormones your body needs can help your endocrine system function more effectively, improving metabolism and influencing gradual weight loss. But so many other factors influence your bodys natural resting weight. Indeed, diet and exercise are the most important factors for healthy weight loss in the majority of cases. As such, its important that you speak with a qualified medical professional to determine which factors matter most for your bodyand how they can be combined to help you feel your best.
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Other Exercise Tips To Help Ensure Success
Before you begin exercising:
- Talk to your doctor about a new exercise program. Choose activities you enjoy so you’ll stick with your workouts.
- Find an exercise partner to help you stay motivated.
- Buy supportive shoes — the right ones for your activity.
- Pick a start date and start.
After you begin exercising:
- Allow at least 10 minutes to warm up before starting to exercise rigorously. To do this, choose an activity that gently works major muscles.
- Before you work out, stretch the muscles that will absorb most of the shock of your exercise routine.
- If you have any new pain while exercising, stop and let your doctor know.
- Gradually boost the distance, length, or intensity of your workout.
- Mix it up. Do different exercises to keep from getting bored and to keep your body challenged.
For the best fitness results, combine your exercise efforts with good nutrition. Here are just a few tips:
- Choose whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.
- Stay away from processed foods.
- Keep a food diary, or explore programs for your computer or apps for your cell phone, to help you watch how many calories you eat.
- Don’t eat too late in the evening.
- When you eat out, take half the serving home.
- Eat smaller amounts but more often.
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Other Than Estrogen Weight Gain What Are The Other Symptoms Of Estrogen Imbalance
Like weight gain, some signs and symptoms of high and low estrogen tend to look very similar. Due to this, you should avoid self-diagnosing as you may end up mistaking one problem for the other. Some symptoms that can be found in women from either low or high estrogen levels include :
- Breast tenderness
What Are The Different Types Of Estrogen
Estrogen comes in different forms in the body and the type produced during different stages in a womans cycle, pregnancy, and menopause changes.
Estriol and estradiol are both types of estrogen. However, estriol is the weakest form and is produced more during pregnancy. On the other hand, Estradiol is the most potent form and made before pregnancy and during a womans fertile years.
Both estradiol and estriol are commonly found in birth control pills and used in hormone replacement therapy . In addition, there is a third type of estrogen, estrone . This is the primary type of estrogen generated when women are postmenopausal.
Both E2 and E3 help promote weight loss, manage menopausal symptoms, and invigorate dry skin. They also can have a beneficial effect on bone health.
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Obesity And Sex Hormones
Body fat distribution plays an important role in the development of obesity-related conditions such as heart disease, stroke and some forms of arthritis. Fat around our abdomen is a higher risk factor for disease than fat stored on our bottom, hips and thighs. It seems that oestrogens and androgens help to decide body fat distribution. Oestrogens are sex hormones made by the ovaries in pre-menopausal women. They are responsible for prompting ovulation every menstrual cycle. Men and postmenopausal women do not produce much oestrogen in their testes or ovaries. Instead, most of their oestrogen is produced in their body fat, although at much lower amounts than what is produced in pre-menopausal ovaries. In younger men, androgens are produced at high levels in the testes. As a man gets older, these levels gradually decrease.The changes with age in the sex hormone levels of both men and women are associated with changes in body fat distribution. While women of childbearing age tend to store fat in their lower body , older men and postmenopausal women tend to increase storage of fat around their abdomen . Postmenopausal women who are taking oestrogen supplements donât accumulate fat around their abdomen. Animal studies have also shown that a lack of oestrogen leads to excessive weight gain.
When To See A Doctor For Hormonal Weight Gain
If you have committed to making necessary lifestyle changes to control hormonal weight gain but you are still not making any progress after 3-6 months, it is time to speak with a doctor. They will be able to determine whether or not you may be a fit for something like BHRT or other medical treatments.
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How Low Estrogen Can Affect Your Body
Estrogen is a very busy hormone for women throughout their lives. Men have some too, but women have more. Estrogen is primarily active in reproductive development and health for women, but its role is far greater than that.
Estrogen is actually a group of sex hormones, each of them performing different roles in womens health and development. Estrogen helps make women curvier than men by making their pelvis and hips wider, and their breast grow.
Estrogen is part of your menstrual cycle, helps you get pregnant, and plays a role in helping you develop bones and grow hair. It also helps regulate your moods and impacts your brain development and structure.
Increased Risk Of Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder disease is a range of conditions that adversely affect the gallbladder and its functions. These conditions include gallbladder inflammation, gallstones, bile duct blockage, and gallbladder infection. The gallbladder is responsible for storing the bile the liver produces before it moves into the small intestine to aid in digestion. Bile is released from the gallbladder into the duodenum through the sphincter of Oddi. However, when something is causing constriction of this sphincter, the bile will stay in the gallbladder too long. This mechanism is the cause of gallstone development. Progesterone is a hormone that causes the sphincter of Oddi to relax, allowing for the normal flow of bile into the duodenum. The use of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can cause an individual to have an increased risk of gallbladder disease. This increased risk occurs because abnormally high levels of hormones such as testosterone and estrogen can cause progesterone levels to drop. This decrease can cause constriction of the sphincter of Oddi. Subsequently, bile is stored in the gallbladder for extended periods, resulting in the formation of gallstones.
Get more information on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy side effects and risks now.
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Read Your Product Labels
In the same way you would read food packaging to make sure that it was free of gluten, added sugars and salts, the right number of calories, etc., is the same way that you should be reading the labels of products such as shampoos, skin care products, household cleaners, and insecticides, among others.
It is said that some of these products contain xenoestrogens a type of xenohormone that imitates estrogen. When you come into contact with or consume products and foods with this chemical compound, it can trigger increased estrogen which will further lead to estrogen weight gain .
How Can I Lose My Menopause Belly
Start with a mix of moderate and vigorous exercise to burn off menopausal weight gain. Your routine should include aerobic exercises like swimming, walking, bicycling, and running, as well as resistance or strength training. What you want to employ now is high intensity interval training , Dr. Peeke says.
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How Do Hormonal Changes And Menopause Affect Weight
Yes, these hormonal changes seem to have some effect on body weight, but the effect is small. They cause a small increase in appetite, as well as a reduction in your energy levels, and overall, this tends to culminate in reduced physical fitness. Because of this, a small amount of weight gain is likely to take place. But and I need to stress this the effect is small, because women tend to gain weight as they age anyway. Why? because in females, the metabolic rate slows by 10% for every decade of life from the age of 20.
During the perimenopausal transition, women gain an average of 4.5lb over 3 years. But this rate of weight gain is very much the same as the 1.5lb of weight gained each year in their 5th and 6th decade of life, which is normally experienced by post-menopausal women.
Understand How Insulin Impacts Weight
Insulin is one of the most important hormones when it comes to weight loss and weight gain. Made by the pancreas, insulin is responsible for storing blood sugar, or utilizing it, depending upon your bodys needs of the moment. After you eat a large meal, a substantial amount of insulin releases itself into the bloodstream. It also enters the bloodstream as needed throughout the day, ensuring that blood sugar levels remain stable.
Another key function of this essential hormone is fat storage. Insulin decides how much fat to store, and how much to convert for energy expenditure. Chronically high levels of insulin can lead to a condition known as insulin resistance, which is linked to an uptick in blood sugar as well as continued elevated insulin levels.
Preventing this insulin imbalance is crucial, as it leads to weight gain, and eventually type 2 diabetes. When insulin levels remain high over an extended period of time, obesity and metabolic syndrome are often the unfortunate outcome.
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Shrink Belly Fat With Tai Chi Or Quigong
Maybe youve never tried it or perhaps youve seen a group of people practicing tai chi together in a public park but a recent research study from Hong Kong showed that this Chinese discipline of low-impact meditative movements could help trim waistlines in middle aged and older adults. This study, published in the June 2021 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, found that people age 50 and older with central obesity who practiced tai chi for 12 weeks shrunk their bellies as successfully as those who participated in aerobic exercise and strength training for the same amount of time. The study authors wrote that tai chi health benefits similar to those of conventional exercise and thus provides an alternative and more amenable exercise modality for middle-aged and older adults to manage central obesity.