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Hormones & Weight Loss

How are hormones involved in the Rapid Metabolic Weightloss Program?

Numerous factors, diet, nutrients, toxin exposure, physical and emotional stresses and hormones all interplay and affect how efficiency we burn and store fat. Hormones are powerful messengers that circulate in our bloodstream and activate a response/action in every cell, tissue and organ of our body. Hormone deficiencies or excesses can lead to fat storage, and properly balanced/optimized levels allow the body to “let go” of stubborn or survival fat.

Hormones that effect metabolism, fat storage and fat loss : 
Thyroid 

Thyroid hormones control the “speed” of our metabolic functions of the body, when the thyroid is low (slow) we slow down. See thyroid article​

Estrogen

Estrogen has over 400 beneficial functions in a women’s body, in men estrogen primary role is to help regulate testosterone. Around age 45 most women start to experience a drop in their own production of estrogen which triggers up to a 20 pound increase in stubborn tummy fat. This fat is not only cosmetically undesirable but it is also inflammatory (the worst kind of fat) increasing the risk heart disease, stroke, certain cancers and diabetes.

 

  • Central effects of estradiol in the regulation of food intake, body weight, and adiposity.Brown LM, Clegg DJ.

  • Selective estrogen receptor modulator promotes weight loss in ovariectomized female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) by decreasing food intake and increasing activity.

  • Effects of estrogen replacement therapy on abdominal fat compartments as related to glucose and lipid metabolism in early postmenopausal women.

  • http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2009/10/22/estrogen-helps-ward-off-belly-fat

Progesterone

Increases metabolic rate (you “burn” more calories at rest), stabilizes blood sugar, prevents/ lowers the overproduction the hormone insulin (helps you use up fat). Helps regulate thyroid function, regulates sleep (optimal human growth hormone activity), help lower stress response and decreases fluid retention.

Testosterone

Primarily a male hormone also has numerous postive effect in a womens body. Related to weight, it is due to the increase in lean muscle and beneficial effects on blood sugar.

 

  • Low-Testosterone-Promotes-Abdominal-Obesity-Aging-Men Article

  • Effect of testosterone on abdominal adipose tissue in men.

  • Testosterone as Potential Effective Therapy in Treatment of Obesity in Men with Testosterone

Insulin

Best known function is to move glucose into our cells, especially muscle. Insulin is also a fat storage hormone geared for survival. This protective mechanism gets out of control when our cells are exposed to excessive blood sugar elevations (diet, stress, pollution) leading to stubborn fat storage, numerous  nutrient deficiencies, and insulin resistance (too much, too quick, too often). If tested and found to be elevated, nutrients and or a prescription are often given.

Human Growth Hormone 

Produced by the pituitary gland (hormone secreting organ in the brain) main function at childhood is to stimulate growth and help maintain tissues and organs throughout life. Beginning in middle age, however, the pituitary gland slowly reduces the amount of growth hormone it produces.  Optimization has been associated to Increase bone density, Increase muscle mass, decrease body fat, Increase exercise capacity, energy, mood, skin elasticity and sleep. Human growth hormone has also be used treat AIDS- or HIV-related muscle wasting. See – Human Growth Hormone Effects of GH and/or sex steroid administration on abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat in healthy aged women and men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cortisol

Is secreted in response to stress. Cortisol is catabolic and causes muscle to be broken down and used for energy, that if excessive can lead to a loss of muscle and bone mass. Excess stressed states can increase insulin (more glucose released = more insulin) causing cells to become insensitive to insulin which in-turn creates a vicious cycle of more insuin and more fat storage.

hCG

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. hCG is naturally occurring in both men and women, but it is produced in excess by the placenta during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the substance almost completely controls the woman’s metabolic functions. New research strongly suggest that hCG stimulates (via the hypothalamus and leptin) stubborn fat movement and burning while decreasing new fat formation, hunger and lean muscle loss.

  • Possible interactions between leptin, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH-I and II) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).

  • In vitro effects of chorionic gonadotropin hormone on human adipose development.

Leptin

The hormone that tells us that we are “full”. A deficiency (damage, lack of sleep, diet, stress) to leptin can lead to, “did I eat, I want more” overeating, hunger and carbohydrate cravings.

Serotonin

Is bodies own appetite suppressant, this powerful brain (and stomach) hormone curbs cravings and shuts off appetite, making you feel full and satisfied.

  • Depression and weight gain: the serotonin connection.

Melatonin

Helps regulate other hormones and maintains the body’s circadian sleep rhythm. Melatonin is involved in energy metabolism and body weight control, without eating less, this maybe due to the increase in brown fat burning (thermogenesis). Melatonin also has anit-oxidant and immune enhancing effects.

  • Melatonin effect on rat body weight regulation in response to high-fat diet at middle age.

  • Daily melatonin administration to middle-aged male rats suppresses body weight, intraabdominal adiposity, and plasma leptin and insulin independent of food intake and total body fat.

  • Significance and application of melatonin in the regulation of brown adipose tissue metabolism: relation to human obesity.

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