Any efforts at losing weight whether you are aware of it or not, will will

affect the body hormones that greatly affect our metabolism. This information is

published in scattered bits and pieces across the internet and sometimes the

relationships are not explained too clearly. I will try to offer a brief but

hopefully more complete explanation of the hormones affected in not only weight

loss but also in weight gain.

One of the key hormones that affect weight management is insulin. Insulin is a

blood sugar regulator. High carbohydrate intake leads to higher blood sugar

levels. This leads to an increase of insulin output by the body. Insulin

production is the body’s natural response to excessively high sugar levels in

the blood. If that sugar is not getting converted into energy fast enough to

maintain safe levels in the blood, insulin will resort to an alternate to that

conversion to energy. This results in the conversion of that blood sugar into

fat that will be stored by the body.

 

The often used term lipogenic refers to simply means an element exhibits fat

producing qualities. In addition to insulin being lipogenic, it also exhibits

another quality that is undesirable to weight loss programs. Insulin is also

antilipolytic. This simply means that it works to fight against the breakdown of

fat. As you now see, a diet that stimulates high insulin output will certainly

be encouraging natural body activities that are not desirable in your efforts to

lose weight.

When the body is stressed due to any number of reasons, insulin production also

increases in order to stimulate the production of cortisol, which is a stress

response hormone. The body then responds to high cortisol by reducing the levels

of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This hormone is very influential

in the production of muscle. Producing more muscle than fat is our ultimate

goal. So you can see that stress can lead to the production of fat instead of

muscle.

Chronic stress stimulates fat cells into storing fat. Fat cells located in the

abdominal wall, characteristically possess more cortisol receptors on their cell

membranes. So in turn, stress will encourage these cells to retain more fat.

Leptin is produced by adipose tissue and leptin binds to nucleus cells of the

hypothalamus, a region of the brain known as the "satiety center." Binding of

leptin to these cells, tells the brain that the body has had enough to eat thus

providing the sensation of being full. In a small number of humans, mutations of

the leptin gene are present that stimulate a constant demand for food. This

typically leads to severe obesity. Unfortunately this condition often encourages

a vicious circle. As the body produces greater and greater quantities of leptin

to fulfill the requirements of the process it sometimes causes higher tolerances

and reduced efficiency. Although management of this hormone has yet to be

understood fully, there have been some short term benefits experienced by the

administration of recombinant human leptin by way of injection.

The hormone serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain made from the amino acids

found in proteins, like leptin, it also sends messages that the body is

satisfied and that we have eaten sufficient to meet our body’s needs. Low

serotonin levels cause depression, obesity, lethargy, and a greater desire for

refined carbohydrates. Low levels of serotonin leads to overeating because the

brain believes the body is starving. A diet that restricts protein-rich calories

can one of the causes for low serotonin levels. Many people that produce very

high levels of cortisol also tend to experience lower serotonin levels.

Another glandular condition called hypothyroidism may affect as high as 30

percent of the population.  Reduced thyroid activity reduces our fat burning

rate and causes fatigue, and lowering of our energy levels. The thyroid is small

gland at the base of your neck that controls energy flow. A reduction or low

level of thyroid hormones leads to lethargy or lack of energy. The incidence of

slowed digestion causes constipation and diminished metabolism leads to weight

gain and elevated cholesterol levels. The brain also needs thyroid hormones to

stimulate the production of hormones like serotonin that we talked about

earlier. So you see hypothyroidism can lead to depression and lethargy and

weight gain.

Often not mentioned in the discussion of weight loss and hormones, testosterone

and estrogens are also important players. These are usually considered male,

female hormones. The production of these hormones tends to diminish with age.

The male hormone, testosterone stimulates high energy and associated fat burning

benefits. On the other hand the female hormone estrogens actually encourage the

storage of fat. A decrease in estrogens levels therefore would seem beneficial

in your weight loss program. Unfortunately a number of conditions call for the

addition of estrogens to ease women through the menopause process. Although

quite effective for that purpose, they will adversely affect weight loss or

weight control efforts.

As you can see, there is a very wide variety of hormones have a role in weight

control. Some of these hormones interact with each other. Some hormones can be

manipulated with drugs or by careful meal planning. Learning more about hormones

and weight loss may help you better plan the phases and objectives for your

weight loss program. Start working on that flat belly with a better

understanding of the complex issues involved in the body that effect your

weight.