Hormone Therapy and Weight Loss
Whether hormone imbalance comes as a result of aging or some other illness, disease, or disruption in your body, the effects are often frustrating. Because both males and females need a proper balance of sex hormones to operate at optimal health levels, one of the most commonly experienced side effects of hormone imbalance is weight gain. Determining whether or not hormone therapy is the right solution can be tricky, however. Let’s take a closer look.
Impact of Hormones on Weight
As mentioned above, everyone needs the proper balance of sex hormones – testosterone and estrogen. When either of these are disrupted, side effects can be experienced. When we age, this imbalance happens naturally, with testosterone levels falling. Sometimes, the effects can be subtle at first. However, they eventually become noticeable. We’ve talked about the symptoms of low testosterone in the past, but increased weight gain is perhaps the symptom most often cited – which doesn’t come as a surprise. Low testosterone often causes weight gain because it impacts not only fat retention, but muscle mass as well.
Body Composition
Hormone imbalance doesn’t only make it easier for you to gain weight, it also makes it harder to keep muscle. Low testosterone specifically impacts your overall body composition negatively. For this reason and many others, it’s not uncommon to see people seek hormone therapy as a means to counteract these effects. Before you rush to your doctor and question whether or not hormone therapy is the solution for you, there are some things to consider.
Not a Fad Diet
Hormone therapy can absolutely help facilitate weight loss. When doctors recommend a healthy regimen of exercise, they do so in part because working out raises your testosterone levels naturally. Depending on the severity of your hormone imbalance, it is likely that you’ll be prompted to try natural remedies before hormone therapy is an option. We recommend trying natural treatment methods, too! After all, if you’re dealing with a minor hormone imbalance, treatments like hormone therapy could easily take you too far in the opposite direction. Remember, the goal isn’t to up your testosterone levels until you’ve reached your desired weight. Rather, it’s about having a proper balance of both sex hormones to regulate your weight alongside countless other crucial systems in your body.
Treating hormone therapy like a catch-all weight loss pill is not the answer. However, if your hormone imbalance is moderate to severe, or changes in diet and exercise routine don’t achieve the desired results, talking to your doctor about hormone therapy for your weight loss may be an excellent choice.
Because testosterone is so closely linked with body composition, muscle mass building, and fat retention, it can be an extremely effective tool in helping lose excess weight and keep it off.
Wondering if hormone therapy might be right for your weight loss journey? Contact us to learn more about your options today.
