5 signs that your weight problems are caused by hormones

Did the spare tire make you feel flat? A functional medicine specialist says a hormonal imbalance may be to blame for your weight problems.

Dr. Pranav Vyas, a chiropractor and acupuncturist in suburban Chicago, shares five signs that your weight loss struggles may be hormone-related.

“If you have any of these or a combination of them, then it makes sense to look at your hormones as the source of your weight problems,” Vyas said on TikTok.

You’ve put in the effort – with nothing to show for it

“The first sign is that you have trouble losing weight,” Vyas said. “You know, you’ve tried all the fad diets and high-impact workouts, and you’re still having trouble losing weight.”

Hormones are chemicals produced by the body that regulate metabolism, growth, reproduction and other processes.

Heathline reports that nine hormones significantly affect weight—insulin, leptin, ghrelin, cortisol, estrogen, neuropeptide Y, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), cholecystokinin (CCK), and peptide YY (PYY).

In turn, cortisol is the main stress hormone. Cortisol can slow your metabolism and fuel cravings, so you may not see weight loss results when you’re stressed.

You have a beer belly or muffin top

Vyas warns of a “pocket of fat in the middle” that is difficult to remove.

For men, this may be due to decreased testosterone. Testosterone is key to maintaining muscle mass – muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue.

Adipose tissue also contains the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone to estrogen, potentially exacerbating hormonal imbalance.

For women, mid-section weight gain may be due to menopause. A decrease in estrogen can cause fat to be stored around the abdomen.

You are gaining weight in your hips, thighs or butt

Estrogen is the main culprit for weight gain in the hips, thighs and buttocks.

The ovaries produce less estrogen during perimenopause and menopause, triggering symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and mood swings.

Menopause, which usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, is when a woman stops menstruating – and is defined as when she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months.

Some women turn to hormone replacement therapy to replenish lost estrogen and ease menopausal symptoms.

You are losing muscle

“No. 4 is that you’re losing muscle, after you try to work out and instead of gaining muscle, you end up with that weak feeling about yourself,” Vyas said.

Elevated cortisol levels can lead to muscle wasting, as can low testosterone, estrogen, and an underactive thyroid.

Your appetite is growing

Ghrelin is the “hunger” hormone that signals the brain when it’s time to eat. Too much ghrelin can be caused by calorie restriction, insufficient sleep, or certain conditions such as anorexia or cachexia with metabolic syndrome.

Ghrelin levels can remain high even after you’ve lost a lot of weight, making it difficult to maintain results.