Estrogen levels that are too high or too low can cause weight gain. High levels of estrogen in the body can irritate the cells that produce insulin in your body, making you insulin resistant and blood sugar levels rise, leading to weight gain. Low levels of estrogen can also cause a very stubborn type of weight gain.
Bloating, or swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the tissues can cause weight gain. This may be due to menstruation, heart or kidney failure, preeclampsia, or medicines you take. A rapid weight gain may be a sign of dangerous fluid retention. If you quit smoking, you might gain weight.
Estrogen causes fluid retention, while progesterone, since it has a diuretic effect reduces that extra fluid. This extra water weight tends to make women feel bloated and can be 5 or more pounds. Estrogen dominance can also increase insulin levels, which leads to sugar cravings to combat the resulting low blood sugar.
A hormonal imbalance also can cause you to pack on the pounds. Obesity continues to be an issue in the United States, bringing with it an increase in chronic health issues such as coronary heart disease and many forms of cancer. When hormones are the culprit, losing weight poses additional challenges.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet, regular physical activity, proper sleep, and stress modification can help with managing and reversing hormonal weight gain and decreasing the associated health risks that may result if it is not addressed.
While progesterone doesn't directly cause weight gain, it does increase your hunger levels which may make you feel like you're eating more and therefore gaining weight. But progesterone is just a small player in hormone balance and weight management. There are other hormone imbalances that may cause weight gain.
Estrogen promotes storing energy as fat in certain parts of your body whereas progesterone supports the metabolism of stored fat so that you burn it as energy.
High estrogen levels can cause symptoms such as irregular or heavy periods, weight gain, fatigue, and fibroids in females. In males, they can cause breast tissue growth, erectile dysfunction, and infertility.
You Might Be Eating Too Little
This phenomenon is called “starvation mode,” and while your body isn't actually starving, it will naturally hold onto whatever calories it receives in an effort to help you maintain your energy balance.
While diet plays a huge role in weight loss, inactivity is another key factor. Maybe you've cut back your energy intake, but if you're not moving enough, you can still gain weight. Research shows that a lack of exercise is one of the main drivers of being overweight or obese [8][9].
Hormonal weight gain affects different areas in men and women. Men tend to gain excess weight in the abdominal area. However, premenopausal women add pounds around the hips and thighs. After menopause, women usually gain weight in the abdomen and develop a "menopausal belly."
The hormone leptin is produced by fat cells and is secreted into our bloodstream. Leptin reduces a person's appetite by acting on specific centres of their brain to reduce their urge to eat. It also seems to control how the body manages its store of body fat.
Hormone therapy (HT) will not help you lose weight, nor is it indicated for weight loss. It also won't prevent hair loss, stop wrinkles or halt the aging process. HT may actually contribute to a little bloating in the midsection for some patients.
Progesterone is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Reducing inflammation also helps your brain to receive another hormone called Leptin, which helps to regulate your appetite. Balanced hormones make it easier to eat in moderation and lose weight.
Weight loss can be difficult, especially if a healthy diet and exercise routine isn't producing results. Unfortunately, weight loss isn't always as simple as leading a healthy lifestyle. For women, low progesterone can be the culprit behind failing weight loss efforts.
Hormones largely influence weight, which in turn, can be controlled by a special focus on eating habits. According to nutritionist Rashi Chowdhary, you need to reset three hormones — prolactin, insulin and thyroid antibodies — for optimal fat loss.
Ghrelin is the opposite of leptin. It tells you that you're hungry, but low ghrelin can make you feel hungrier and cause you to overeat. Cortisol, the stress hormone, also influences weight. High cortisol affects metabolism and may increase your risk of overeating or make weight loss more difficult.
Insulin is a key hormone
This causes you to pile on the pounds as the additional circulating insulin encourages your body to store fat. When your insulin levels are unregulated, other hormones — such as cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone — can also fall out of balance and make weight loss even harder.