Gaining Weight? Expert Shares Hormonal Imbalance Could Be The Reason

Weight gain is one of the most common symptoms of many health ailments. With people adhering to old standards of a healthy body, the slightest visibility of fat scares them and often invites unwanted comments on the body and shaming.

Only after the reason for weight gain is diagnosed that people start understanding that eating junk food and not exercising enough is not the only reason to gain weight. Did you know hormonal imbalance can lead to weight gain?

To give you a clear insight into this, we connected with Dr Sathiya S, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Chennai, OMR. Here is what the expert shared.

Roles Of Hormones In The Body

Hormones are nothing but chemical messengers that our body produces. They are released from the endocrine glands, which travel in the bloodstream. It helps to decide how organs will act and controls the in and out function of the body.

Hormones also regulate metabolism and reproductive systems. Dr Sathiya said a slight change or imbalance in these messengers can affect our body in various ways. Many of the fluctuations happen just because of age.

Hormonal Imbalance & Weight Gain

One of the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance is weight gain. It can happen to a person of any gender or age. It can be a sudden effect or happen gradually.

However, Dr Sathiya also clarified that in many cases weight gain can be a positive thing for the body, and it would happen if the fluctuations in hormones remain within the appropriate ranges.

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Hormones That Lead To Weight Gain

Here is a list of hormones that can lead to weight gain in the body,

• Insulin (secreted in the pancreas)
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone
• Oestrogen (sex hormone)
• Progesterone (hormone among females)
• Androgen (a male hormone that can be in excess among females due to PCOS)
• Cortisol (stress hormone)
• Leptin (fullness hormone that regulates appetite)
• Ghrelin (hunger hormone)

Dr Sathiya saidPolycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is among the leading causes of hormonal imbalance and weight gain among women and girls in the reproductive age group.

Tips To Deal With Weight Gain Due To Hormonal Imbalance

Weight gain due to hormonal imbalance is not an irreversible condition. It can be managed, and a person can even lose weight. Sometimes, it is suggested to lose weight to keep the body fit and reduce the risks of hormonal imbalance.

Dr Sathoya suggested a few ways to keep hormonal balance in check,

• Practising a healthy lifestyle is advised to avoid sedentary work and exercise regularly.
• Consuming a balanced diet can be a good way to avoid hormonal imbalances. It will also help in managing weight.
• Making a few modifications in lifestyle, like following a low-calorie diet along with a few easy workouts can make corrections in the hormonal balance naturally.
• Other methods include medication to correct the hormonal imbalance. A doctor would prescribe these medicines only if the test results indicate fluctuation in hormones. One must not administer them as per their will.

Hormonal imbalance is natural in today’s times with such hectic routine, erratic meal timings and our love for junk food. However, it can be managed and corrected. You have to be watchful and make small changes in your lifestyle.