Hormones and weight loss
An effective weight management program also requires that you take care of the endocrine system of your body. The proper regulation of the endocrine system or the hormonal system is essential in following a weight management schedule because hormones are crucial catalysts that actually regulate the body metabolism process.
There are different kind s of hormones and therefore there are different kind s of reactions to weight loss or weight gain.
Some hormones foster weight loss and muscle gain, while there are some others that encourage the gain of fat in the body.
Again, there are some hormones that can work both ways.
This article attempts a brief description of the action of hormones to the end of a successful weight loss program.
It should also be particularly mentioned that you should definitely abstain from taking hormone injections for fast weight loss and creating muscle shape because in the long term, hormone injections can create complications within the body through a hormonal imbalance.
What is insulin?
Insulin is one of the primary hormones affecting weight management process within us.
Insulin is the blood sugar regulator hormone of the body.
High blood sugar levels in the body automatically results in the formation of higher levels of insulin. If the body finds that the insulin produced in the body is not sufficient to maintain the optimum blood sugar level, then the body resorts to the alternative tactics, which is converting sugar into fat and storing in the body, thereby contributing to weight gain.
Insulin is therefore a lipogenic (fat producing) hormone and also a natural antilipolytic substance (resisting the breakdown of fat). Therefore, a sugar rich diet that stimulates high insulin production will contribute to your weight gain process.
In order to reverse the process, you will definitely have to regulate your diet in a proper sugar free way.
And what about cortisol?
Chronic stress to the mind or body stimulates the generation of cortisol, the stress hormone of the body.
The body responds to high cortisol levels by the lowering of the concentration of another hormone, DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone.
The lowering of DHEA levels facilitates the deposition of more fat in the body cells because DHEA is an important hormone in producing muscle structure.
Moreover, the fat cells of the abdominal wall consist of more cortisol receptors, thereby adding to weight gain in the abdominal region in the event of stress.
Other important hormones
Two other very important hormones in the body, leptin (produced in the adipose tissue or fat tissue) and serotonin (a neurotransmitter produced from the brain neurons) affect the satiety center in the hypothalamus region of the brain.
The satiety center is crucial in controlling weight because through this center the body receives signals about how much to eat.
Especially low levels of serotonin lead to overeating because the body tends to believe that the body has not eaten sufficient amount of food.
Last, but not least – thyroid hormone
Another crucial hormone related to the weight loss process is the thyroid hormone.
The thyroid hormone shortage makes the body sluggish at every level. This particular condition is known as hypothyroidism and can lead to extreme obesity due to slower metabolism.
Reference: CNN: After dieting, hormone changes may fuel weight regain
