This panel provides an assessment of hormones implicated in regulating overall metabolism and weight gain or loss especially during times of increased stress. Heightened stress levels tend to cause imbalances in hormones such as cortisol and testosterone. Testosterone has a key role in fat metabolism. It has major influence on body fat composition and muscle mass. Cortisol in particular is linked with weight fluctuations. Both an excess or deficiency of cortisol can impact testosterone levels and thyroid function, trigger weight fluctuations and symptoms of low metabolism. Proper thyroid function helps to maintain a healthy metabolism, but both high and low cortisol levels can impair the conversion of thyroid hormone from its inactive form to its active form. This can lead to low thyroid function, causing weight gain and poor metabolism. Results illustrate hormone levels with respect to normal reference ranges.
