Hormonal imbalance and weight gain
Have you tried everything from sweating it out in the gym to giving up your favourite meal; still there is no sign of weight loss? May be you should get your hormones checked. It won't be wrong to say that experiencing hormonal imbalance, food cravings and slow metabolism is an integral part of every woman's life. Moreover, all the above mentioned conditions may be related to pre-menstrual syndrome, pregnancy, menopause, stress or poor lifestyle. Research has revealed that factors like appetite, weight loss, metabolism and female hormones are intricately linked. Hormonal imbalance is a common problem amongst women as compared to their male counterparts. Hormones affect women of all ages and it not only affects their biological cycle but also their day to day life. But, what role hormones play in weight gain? Here are some hormones that can be blamed for that extra fat around your belly.
Thyroid hormones
Deficiency of thyroid causes hypothyroidism in women which leads to weight gain in women. The common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, dry skin and constipation. Weight gain is the result of decreased metabolic rate of the body.
Estrogen
During menopause, the levels of estrogen, the female sex hormone, drops resulting in weight gain , especially around the gut. Fat cells can also be blamed for weight gain as they are found to be another of source of estrogen that converts calories into fats.
Progesterone
During menopause, there is a drop in the level of progesterone in the body. However, this decrease doesn’t actually cause weight gain but it results in water retention and bloating in women, making them feel fuller and heavier.
Testosterone
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is another condition in which a woman’s sex hormones estrogen and progesterone go out of whack, which leads to weight gain, menstrual related problems, facial hair, acne and infertility.
Insulin
Another hormone you can blame for fat and carbohydrates in the body is insulin. This hormone allows your body to use glucose. Besides, it also a casual agent for PCOS that leads to infertility. High insulin level in the blood contributes to weight gain. Image source : Getty
