The problem of weight is not as simple as gaining pounds. The biggest issue may be where the fat is distributed within your body. Throughout much of adulthood, women tend to carry fat on their hips and thighs. However, after menopause, women store more fat in the abdominal area.     

 The fat in this area, called visceral fat, is not fat that is simply settled under the skin. It sits deeper in the abdomen, filling the space between vital organs and the fat-covered membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.  

While many attribute weight gain solely to diet and exercise, or lack thereof, these are not the only causes for an increase in inches. Weight gain can also be attributed in part to hormones.  

 Did you know that stubborn fat can be harder to lose if your hormones are not in balance? This is why it is a good idea to check all hormones first.  

 Which hormones are necessary to balance weight healthily? Hormones and weight gain are interdependent. Below are the hormones that you will want to control to make sure you can reach the healthiest weight in your life.   

1. Thyroid

 The thyroid regulates metabolism, sleep, heart rate, brain growth and development, among other functions.   

2. Leptin  

 When your body is 100% healthy, leptin indicates that you are full and need to stop eating.    

But when we eat too much sugar-rich or processed foods, the excess supply of fructose turns into fat and deposits in the liver, abdomen, and other areas of the body. 

3. Insulin

Insulin is secreted by the pancreas, which helps transport glucose to cells in your body so that it can be used for energy or stored as an energy reserve for later in your fat cells. 

4. Estrogen  

The levels of estrogen too high or too low can lead to weight gain.      

High levels of estrogen in the body can irritate your body’s insulin-producing cells, making it resistant to insulin and raising blood sugar levels, resulting in weight gain.    

Low estrogen levels can also cause very stubborn weight gain.     

5. Cortisol

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and is mainly secreted when we are stressed, depressed, anxious, angry, or physically injured.

Cortisol regulates energy levels and energy mobilization. But high levels can lead to hyperinsulinemia, increased visceral fat deposition, and fat cell maturation, which can lead to an increase in your body weight.      

 The levels of estrogen: Can they affect weight gain?      

   The levels of estrogen may be low in women for many reasons, however the most common reason for low levels of estrogen is menopause. This is when a woman’s reproductive hormones drop and her period stops. Many women notice that they gain weight at this time of their life.                  

One of the reasons for this is due to changing hormone levels during menopause.

During menopause, a form of estrogen and estradiol decreases. This hormone helps regulate metabolism and body weight. Lower estradiol levels can cause an increase in weight.                    

Throughout their life, women may notice they gain weight around the hips and thighs. However, after menopause, women tend to carry weight around the middle part and the abdomen.  

This type of fat gain tends to accumulate in the abdomen and around the organs, where it is known as visceral fat.

Visceral fat can be very dangerous. It has been linked to several other medical conditions, including:      

•     Diabetes
•     Heart disease
•     Cancers

How to manage weight gain?

Hormones and weight gain go hand in hand. Maintaining a healthy  weight is linked with the balance of estrogen, eating right and staying active.      

A healthy diet to control your weight means:

•     Avoid processed foods
•     Regularly consume fruit and vegetables.
•     Drink lots of water to stay hydrated
•     Avoiding carbonated drinks, juices, and alcohol
• Include whole grains and lean proteins with healthy vegetable fats

Being active is also very important to control the weight gain associated with lowering estrogen levels. Jogging, swimming, and walking, in addition to cardiovascular exercises, can help build muscle and promote healthy bones.        

Behaviour and hormones of obesity

Obese people have high levels of hormones that stimulate the accumulation of body fat. Behaviours such as overeating and lack of regular exercise, over time, appear to “reset” the processes that regulate appetite and the distribution of body fat so that the person is physiologically more likely to gain weight. The body always tries to maintain balance, so it is resistant to all short-term interruptions, such as “crash diets”.    

Several studies have shown that a person’s blood level of leptin decreases after a diet low in calories. The lower levels of leptin can increase a person’s appetite and slow down your metabolism. 

This may help explain why crash dieters typically regain their lost weight. Rapid weight loss or dramatic calorie reduction, which can typically happen in a crash diet, signals to the brain that the body is starving and plummets leptin levels. This then causes a rapid increase in appetite, while also decreasing energy levels.                            

There is some evidence to suggest that long-term behavioural changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, can prevent the body from shedding excess body fat and preventing it. 

Studies have also shown that weight loss resulting from a healthy diet and exercise or bariatric surgery results in better insulin resistance, decreased inflammation, and beneficial modulation of blood hormones. 

Weight loss is also associated with a lower risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer.