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How Hormone Balance Affects Healthy Weight Management

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 73.6% of Americans over the age of twenty are overweight or obese (1). A lot of this can be attributed to unhealthy eating behaviors, lack of physical activity, stress, and genetics, but for those looking to maintain or reach a healthy weight, sometimes it is difficult, even when doing everything right. Especially in these situations, it is important to look further and evaluate the unique physiology of the individual — asking what else could be contributing? One aspect that should be investigated is how human reproductive hormones, ie. estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, interact and contribute to weight parameters.

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With women, estrogen gets the most attention, more specifically estradiol, the dominant estrogen during reproductive years. This is because many women tend to gain weight after menopause, making it obvious that the lowered levels of this hormone could be a contributing factor. Research however, shows that estradiol levels are essential to weight management not only during post-menopausal years, but throughout the entire life cycle. Estradiol regulates body weight by decreasing appetite and increasing satiety; with much of this control acting directly on the hypothalamus. It also interacts peripherally with insulin, with low levels of estradiol, especially seen in menopause, associated with increased insulin resistance. Insulin resistance in turn results in an increase in visceral, or central body fat gain (2).

Though low estradiol levels are associated with weight gain, a different form of estrogen, referred to as estrone, tends to be higher in obese individuals. This is because it is formed within fat tissue. It is produced by the conversion of androgens (such as testosterone or DHEA) to estrone, thereby affecting the balance of these hormones in the body. This tends to be a bigger problem for men, who rely on testosterone and other androgens as their dominant reproductive hormone. Therefore, it is no surprise that obese men tends to have higher blood levels of estrogen compared to healthy controls, and lower levels of testosterone (3).

Low testosterone is becoming more and more of a discussion topic in the men’s health realm, with some even advocating for it to be included in yearly bloodwork as a marker of general health. Obesity in men is associated with suppressed testosterone levels due to the effect of insulin resistances affect on carrier proteins and the hypothalamus, with the low testosterone itself perpetuating the issue by increasing fat production. On top of that, testosterone is important in men for mood, energy, and the ability to build muscle, with low levels likely contributing to lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits (4).

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The third hormone, progesterone, has less research when it comes to weight management, though there has been more recent discussion on its role in women. Generally, it is regarded to have somewhat of a “Goldilocks principle” in action, too little or too much can contribute to weight difficulties. For example, lower levels can cause mood changes or increased PMS symptoms that would potentially dissuade one from exercise and healthy eating habits. On the other hand, too high progesterone can lead to fatigue, bloating, and water retention; however this is usually caused by excess hormone replacement. When it comes to men, there is less information on the importance of progesterone, but the discussion is happening because it definitely does have a role — it can counteract the effects of estrogen on men, and it is a precursor to testosterone. Unfortunately, more research is needed to know exactly how this relates to weight management, but time will tell.

Overall, it is obvious that appropriate hormone balance is important for weight management. For women, estrogen levels have an important interplay with insulin function, which though important throughout life becomes more prevalent during the peri-menopause and menopause years. In men, proper levels of testosterone levels are important for normal insulin function, with the cycle self-perpetuating when levels are low and/or the individual is overweight.

If on a weight management journey, testing hormone levels can be essential in making a well-rounded support plan. AYUMETRIX offers convenient at-home tests that make it easy to check hormone levels, especially when working with an integrative or functional medicine practitioner.

- Mary Hall, ND, LAc

Resources:
1. “Obesity and Overweight” National Center for Health Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm
2. Vigil, P, Melendez, J., Petkovic, G., Del Rio, J.P. 2022. The importance of estradiol for body weight regulation in women. Front Endocrine. 13: 951186. Online.
3. Kley, H.K., Deselaers, T., Peerenboom, H., Kruskember, H.L. 1980. Enhanced conversion of androstenedione to estrones in obese males. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 51(5): 1128-32.
4. Tang Fui, M.N., Dupuis, P., Grossmann, M. 2014. Lowered testosterone in male obesity: mechanisms, morbidity and management. Asian J Androl. 16(2): 223-231.

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How Hormone Balance Affects Healthy Weight Management

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 73.6% of Americans over the age of twenty are overweight or obese (1). A lot of this can be attributed to unhealthy eating behaviors, lack of physical activity, stress, and genetics, but for those looking to maintain or reach a healthy weight, sometimes it is difficult, even when doing everything ‘right. Especially in these situations, it is important to look further and evaluate the unique physiology of the individual — asking what else could be contributing? One aspect that should be investigated is how human reproductive hormones, ie. estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, interact and contribute to weight parameters.

Facebook Instagram Youtube

With women, estrogen gets the most attention, more specifically estradiol, the dominant estrogen during reproductive years. This is because many women tend to gain weight after menopause, making it obvious that the lowered levels of this hormone could be a contributing factor. Research however, shows that estradiol levels are essential to weight management not only during post-menopausal years, but throughout the entire life cycle. Estradiol regulates body weight by decreasing appetite and increasing satiety; with much of this control acting directly on the hypothalamus. It also interacts peripherally with insulin, with low levels of estradiol, especially seen in menopause, associated with increased insulin resistance. Insulin resistance in turn results in an increase in visceral, or central body fat gain (2).

Though low estradiol levels are associated with weight gain, a different form of estrogen, referred to as estrone, tends to be higher in obese individuals. This is because it is formed within fat tissue. It is produced by the conversion of androgens (such as testosterone or DHEA) to estrone, thereby affecting the balance of these hormones in the body. This tends to be a bigger problem for men, who rely on testosterone and other androgens as their dominant reproductive hormone. Therefore, it is no surprise that obese men tends to have higher blood levels of estrogen compared to healthy controls, and lower levels of testosterone (3).

We Support our healthcare practitioners by offering the highest-quality, accurate and meaningful test results.

 

Learn more about becoming a Provider for Free, or learn more about our state-of-the-art tests.

Become a Provider
Our Tests

Low testosterone is becoming more and more of a discussion topic in the men’s health realm, with some even advocating for it to be included in yearly bloodwork as a marker of general health. Obesity in men is associated with suppressed testosterone levels due to the effect of insulin resistances affect on carrier proteins and the hypothalamus, with the low testosterone itself perpetuating the issue by increasing fat production. On top of that, testosterone is important in men for mood, energy, and the ability to build muscle, with low levels likely contributing to lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits (4).

The third hormone, progesterone, has less research when it comes to weight management, though there has been more recent discussion on its role in women. Generally, it is regarded to have somewhat of a “Goldilocks principle” in action, too little or too much can contribute to weight difficulties. For example, lower levels can cause mood changes or increased PMS symptoms that would potentially dissuade one from exercise and healthy eating habits. On the other hand, too high progesterone can lead to fatigue, bloating, and water retention; however this is usually caused by excess hormone replacement. When it comes to men, there is less information on the importance of progesterone, but the discussion is happening because it definitely does have a role — it can counteract the effects of estrogen on men, and it is a precursor to testosterone. Unfortunately, more research is needed to know exactly how this relates to weight management, but time will tell.

Overall, it is obvious that appropriate hormone balance is important for weight management. For women, estrogen levels have an important interplay with insulin function, which though important throughout life becomes more prevalent during the peri-menopause and menopause years. In men, proper levels of testosterone levels are important for normal insulin function, with the cycle self-perpetuating when levels are low and/or the individual is overweight.

If on a weight management journey, testing hormone levels can be essential in making a well-rounded support plan. AYUMETRIX offers convenient at-home tests that make it easy to check hormone levels, especially when working with an integrative or functional medicine practitioner.


- Mary Hall, ND, LAc


References: 1. “Obesity and Overweight” National Center for Health Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm 2. Vigil, P, Melendez, J., Petkovic, G., Del Rio, J.P. 2022. The importance of estradiol for body weight regulation in women. Front Endocrine. 13: 951186. Online. 3. Kley, H.K., Deselaers, T., Peerenboom, H., Kruskember, H.L. 1980. Enhanced conversion of androstenedione to estrones in obese males. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 51(5): 1128-32. 4. Tang Fui, M.N., Dupuis, P., Grossmann, M. 2014. Lowered testosterone in male obesity: mechanisms, morbidity and management. Asian J Androl. 16(2): 223-231.

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