Long gone are the days when weight loss was viewed simply through the lens of “calories in, calories out.”
Today, we understand that weight management is far more complex and that each individual has a distinct way of metabolizing food into energy. When you encounter a hormone imbalance, weight management can become even harder.
At Bio-X Weight Loss Center in Round Rock and Austin, Texas, Luis Wilmot Jr., MPAS, PA-C, specializes in weight loss management, helping the men and women in his care navigate their weight loss journeys.
Today, let’s look at the role that hormones play in weight management and how you can restore optimal balance and reach a healthier weight.
Your metabolism is the process by which your body converts food into energy. Your cells work around the clock to keep your body’s systems running effectively. Part of that process involves directing your body to use more or less energy, depending on an array of circumstances.
Routine bodily functions your metabolism drives include:
Changes to your metabolism can happen as you age and are linked to shifts in your body’s natural hormone production.
Various hormones factor into your metabolic function, including sex hormones — primarily estrogen in women and testosterone in men. Note that women naturally produce small amounts of testosterone and men produce small amounts of estrogen.
Over time, everyone produces less estrogen or testosterone. That can lead to a hormonal imbalance, which causes numerous changes in how we feel and function every day. These natural transitions are known as menopause and andropause.
One of the most significant ways that natural hormonal decline affects weight loss regards reduced muscle mass. Women and men lose muscle mass gradually as they move through middle age and beyond.
Because muscle tissue requires more energy to maintain than fat, the number of calories you need to maintain muscle is higher than what you need to maintain fat. Essentially, your metabolism works harder if your body has plenty of muscle and less fat.
Changes brought on by declining natural hormone production can complicate your ability to get and stay fit. For women, issues such as hot flashes and increased cravings can change daily habits.
Men often struggle with issues such as sexual dysfunction and low sex drive, both of which can cause emotional turmoil and reduce motivation to stay physically active.
Both sexes often encounter problems such as mood swings, headaches, and brain fog as a result of hormonal imbalance. Sleep disruption is also common. When your body doesn’t get enough rest, it’s difficult to increase your activity levels to stave off weight gain.
One of the easiest ways to manage hormonally linked weight gain is restoring optimal hormonal balance. That’s possible through hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is an area of specialty at Bio-X Weight Loss Center.
The process begins with blood testing to assess your current hormone production levels. We also sit down with you to discuss any changes you’ve noticed, including weight gain. If you’re a good candidate for HRT, we review the process and what to expect.
Don’t put off exploring solutions for hormonally driven weight gain. Schedule an appointment by phone or online today.
