The Link Between Hormonal Imbalance and Weight Gain

Underlying health issues and getting older can both cause hormonal fluctuations, making you feel less than your best. A hormonal imbalance can even cause weight gain, along with a few other unpleasant side effects.

Our dedicated primary practitioner, Gordon Hart, PA-C, at Balance Hormone Center, promotes healthy hormone balancing using gentle and effective methods. These compassionate treatments include holistic solutions to help rebalance everything your body needs to stay active, happy, and healthy.

What are hormones and what do they do?

Hormones are the tiny messengers in your body that carry information through your bloodstream to all the other parts of your body. They tell organs and tissues what to do, how to do it, and for how long.

Hormones are the responsibility of your endocrine system, which is a vital part of your overall health. They work efficiently, but slowly, so it may be difficult to know if you have a hormonal imbalance. Hormones affect processes like your metabolism, sexual function, growth, mood, and reproduction.

Weight gain is the most obvious and common sign of a hormonal imbalance. Weight fluctuations are normal, but if you’ve gained a significant amount of weight in a short period of time, we at Balance Hormone Center can help.

Reasons hormones cause weight gain

Hormones can wreak all kinds of havoc on your body without you noticing, but weight gain is a specific and visible sign that you can see when you look in the mirror. Here are some reasons you might be experiencing a hormonal imbalance right now.

Menopause

Usually, women enter menopause between 45 and 55 years old. This is when the estrogen hormone declines, which causes a woman to stop menstruating. An estrogen decrease can also cause weight gain around this same time. These extra pounds tend to accumulate in your thighs and hips. As men age, their testosterone levels decrease, resulting in an increase in body fat and decrease in muscle mass.

Weight gain is extra troubling because, excess weight in your midsection can lead to heart disease, breathing problems, and even Type 2 diabetes. Hanging on to additional weight can also increase your risk of some types of cancers.

Hypothyroidism

If your body doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones, you have hypothyroidism. The thyroid is a small gland at the back of your neck, and it provides vital hormone regulation to keep you healthy. It ensures that all your organs have enough energy to function.

If your thyroid is underproducing the necessary energy for your body to function, you can experience weight gain.

Beyond weight gain

If you’ve gained weight without an apparent cause, get your hormone levels checked by a professional. Some other signs of a hormonal imbalance to watch out for are:

Fatigue
Depression
Mood swings
Foggy memory
Headaches
Loss of libido
Chronic acne
Trouble sleeping
Irregular periods

What can I do about a hormonal imbalance?

At Balance Hormone Center, we have some easy solutions if you’re experiencing the effects of a hormone imbalance.

Hormone therapy can help women before, during, and after menopause, and it’s also an option for men experiencing a drop in testosterone levels. Regardless of age, diet, or environmental factors, a natural hormone replacement therapy treatment plan can decrease or eliminate imbalances. At Balance Hormone Center, we specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

When diet and exercise aren’t enough to shed excess pounds, consider personalized treatment options for weight loss. You can take control of your weight loss under the supervision of a certified specialist by developing unique treatment plans that help you reach your goals.

Getting your body back in balance is a critical part of your happiness.

Are you ready to make an appointment at Balance Hormone Center in Norman, Oklahoma? To find out how we can help you return to a happy and healthy hormonal balance, call our office today or use our convenient online scheduling tool to request an appointment.