Hormones and Weight Gain

Hormones play key roles in sleep, growth and development, emotions and sex drive, but they also play a crucial role in regulating body weight. A hormone imbalance can result in weight gain that is very difficult to get rid of.

While most people assume weight gain is the result of a poor diet or lack of exercise, in some cases the root cause may be hormonal, and no matter how much money is spent on weight-loss pills, exercise equipment and gym memberships, the extra pounds just refuse to melt away.

When under stress, the brain produces the hormones adrehaline and cortisol – adrenaline increases alertness, and cortisol increases respiratory and heart rate. While designed to help the body respond to danger and pressure during "fight or flight" situations, an excess of these two hormones can be damaging to your health, leading to obesity as well as conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure.

When released, cortisol and adrenaline go directly to fat cells in the body, triggering them to release fuel into the bloodstream, the muscles and the liver that can be drawn upon for quick energy in a crisis. The process also releases insulin and stimulates appetite. Over time, the result can be significant weight gain and, in some cases, diabetes. Fat cells in the stomach are particularly adept at attracting cortisol, making belly fat some of the most difficult to lose.

Insulin, which is released in response to spikes in blood sugar, is also a hormone, and in excess it can facilitate weight gain. Even those who do not develop diabetes are at risk for insulin resistance, a pre-diabetic condition that causes greater amounts of insulin to be pumped into your system when you eat.

Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to blunt the negative effects hormones can have on your waist line. In order to avoid the effects of excess insulin, avoid white, starchy carbohydrates like white bread, white rice and potatoes, along with sugary soft drinks and deserts.

To reduce the effects of cortisol and adrenaline, meanwhile, use strategies like deep breathing, meditation and yoga, along with lifestyle changes like an increased focus on time management and organization, to combat stress. You might be pleasantly surprised how much simply reducing the stress in your average day can take inches off your waistline.

If lifestyle and diet changes do not fix the problem, it is possible that you have a hormone imbalance that needs medical attention, such as an underactive or overactive thyroid.