How Do Hormones Affect Body Weight?

The human diet is essentially related to what body weight is. However, it is not the only factor that explains weight loss or gain, as hormones play a very important role in this.

They are responsible for several important bodily functions. These functions include metabolism, appetite, digestion, and other things related to weight.

Therefore,  an imbalance in these functions can cause overweight.  However, it should be remembered that being overweight can also cause hormonal imbalances, i.e. it works in both directions.

Because hormones are so important to human health, we now want to talk about some of the most significant ones and their relationship to weight – keep reading if you are interested in weight management!

Hormones and weight: leptin

This hormone is secreted by fat cells. It  tells your brain that you already have enough energy in storage and don’t need more food to get more calories.

Therefore, it is known as an “appetite suppressant” and its balance is important for a healthy weight.

The problem is that too much fat raises leptin levels unnecessarily. This is when the brain stops paying attention to the signals it sends out.

To prevent this from happening, you should eat more fruits, vegetables and other foods that are high in antioxidants.

Insulin

Insulin is one of the most well-known hormones due to its role in controlling blood sugar.

In addition to this, it also plays a role in the use of metabolic nutrients and increases energy use.

When you suffer from some type of imbalance, it stores sugars as fat. This makes it difficult to lose weight.

 Cortisol

This is known as a stress hormone, and cortisol is associated with a higher accumulation of abdominal fat.

It works in the processing of fat, protein and sugar in metabolism, and it also has a role in controlling blood pressure.

Negative reactions are caused by too much secretion. This is due to stress and other similar reasons.

Estrogens and androgens

Estrogens are mainly female hormones, and androgens are mainly male.

Both are related to the distribution of fat in the body. This explains why  body mass changes as you move through different stages of life.

For example, in the fertile phase, women tend to store fat in the lower body, and during menopause, more fat is stored in the abdomen.

Growth hormone

In order to lose weight, you need to have higher amounts of this hormone. It works in conjunction with your fat cells and helps convert those cells into energy.

To stimulate it, you should do intense exercise and sleep at least eight hours a night.

Adrenaline

This hormone is greatly associated with the conversion of fat into energy. It suppresses appetite,  prevents the accumulation of belly fat and is a key factor in preventing overweight.

The best way to stimulate it and keep its level stable is to exercise daily.

Adiponectin

This is a hormone made up of adipose tissue. It plays a role in burning glucose and fatty acids.

It increases your muscles ’ability to get energy from carbohydrates. It also increases the rate at which your body breaks down fats.  In addition, it curbs your appetite.

Exercise and eating polyunsaturated fats is one way to balance the levels of this hormone in the body.

Irysine

Irysine is a hormone produced by exercise. Its job is to make burning calories more efficient – even after exercise.

It comes through the blood into white fat (“bad fat”) and converts this to brown fat (“good fat”).

Cholecystokinin

This hormone acts as an appetite suppressant by controlling caloric intake.

When released, it reduces a person’s desire to continue eating, so he or she also feels full faster.

Exercise and hormonal balance are thus both key issues in weight management. Keep your habits good and see your doctor regularly if you want to prevent hormonal imbalances.