Losing or maintaining weight as you age might seem harder than it was when you were in your twenties. That’s because it is. Hormones, which are responsible for a wide range of body processes, including metabolism, can affect your ability to slim down and keep weight off long term. As you get older, hormone production can slow down and become erratic, leading to a host of physical and emotional changes. If you’re suffering from hormone imbalance, then you may benefit from natural hormone replacements in the form of pellet therapy. Getting your hormones balanced again might help you achieve your weight loss goals.
Major Culprits
When we talk about hormone imbalance, we’re talking about a varied number of hormones that play critical roles in how your body responds to food and exercise. Here are some of the key players in your body’s hormone lineup:
- Leptin – responsible for appetite control
- Cortisol – fat storage, brought on by stress
- Estrogen – essential sex hormone for women
- Testosterone – essential sex hormone for men
- Thyroid hormones – responsible for metabolism
Too much leptin or cortisol can lead to excess fat storage. Thyroid problems, such as cancer or hypothyroidism, can make it impossible for people to lose weight. Estrogen and testosterone are typically the major culprits when it comes to age-related hormone imbalance.
The older men get, the less testosterone they produce. Likewise, women produce different amounts of estrogen naturally as they age. When these essential sex hormones, which are responsible for much more than just libido, get out of balance, the body responds in different ways. For some, changes are mild. But plenty of men and women suffer from problems related to hormone imbalance, including weight gain, bloating, irritability and mood swings.
Age or Hormones – Does It Matter?
You might be wondering if it matters whether your weight gain or inability to lose weight is due to age or hormones. The short answer is yes, it does. It might be harder to lose weight and maintain your figure as you age, but it’s not impossible with extra effort. If you’re spending a lot of time, energy and money trying to slim down without success, however, then there may be an underlying cause that can be addressed through different therapy methods. Start by tracking your energy levels, how hungry you feel throughout the day, what and how much you eat, whether you have food cravings, and your exercise regimen. Using an app for this purpose can help you lose more weight while offering insight into problem areas.
If you’re getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising, but you still can’t seem to shed the weight, then you may be dealing with a hormone problem. Fortunately, there are options for getting back on track without resorting to diet pills or gimmicks.
Balancing Your Body
Diet and exercise can be enough for many people to lose weight, but hormones play a vital role in long-term success. Bio-identical hormone replacement treatments, such as pellet therapy, are uniquely tailored to the individual needs of people who need relief from hormone imbalance. If you’ve been trying to lose weight without success, then your hormones may be to blame. Talk with your doctor about hormone replacement therapy to see if it’s a good fit for you. Balancing your hormones could encourage long-term weight loss.
Sources:
https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/hormone-reset-diet
https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-tips/can-hormonal-imbalance-cause-weight-gain