Do hormones make you fat?
Many people wonder if hormones make you fat. Do you know which hormones are involved in weight gain? The woman is more prone, yes, but why? Can a hormonal disorder influence your physical condition? That’s what we’re going to see.
What is a hormone?
A hormone is a “substance secreted by an endocrine gland, released into the bloodstream and intended to act specifically on one or more target organs in order to modify their functioning,” says the Larousse.
Our endocrine system consists of a dozen glands specialized in the production of a specific hormone. Some of our organs, such as the pancreas, heart, kidneys, ovaries, testicles and intestines, are also capable of making hormones.
Hormones are therefore the body’s chemical messengers. They have very specific functions and several play arole in weight regulation.
5 hormones that can make you fat
- Insulin: insulin is secreted by the pancreas. It must maintain the level of glucose in the blood. Insulin stimulates lipid synthesis in body fat(1)
- Ghrelin: Ghrelin is also called the “hunger hormone”. Secreted by stomach cells before eating, it triggers hunger, causing food intake;
- Cortisol: Cortisol is the “stress hormone”. It is released by the adrenal glands following stimulation of the pituitary gland. It thus provides the body with the energy necessary to cope with a stressful situation. If the cortisol level is too high, it can lead to weight gain;
- Leptin: Leptin is the opposite of ghrelin. Produced by fat cells, it is the “satiety” hormone. A phenomenon called “leptin resistance” is responsible for the lack of feeling of satiety, although the level of leptin in the body is high;
- Glucagon: Glucagon is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar. Glucagon has an opposite function to that of insulin, since it causes a rise in blood sugar.
So all these hormones make some people fat. Indeed, when the production of one of the hormones is in too large quantity or in insufficient quantity, then ahormonal disorderappears. This will directly affect ourhealth and well-being .
Women and their hormones: the fight of a lifetime
In addition to men, women haveovarian hormonesthat influence their lives, from puberty to menopause. These are estrogen and progesterone.
- Estrogen: Estrogen is the hormone of femininity. It is under its action that young girls develop at puberty. The chest grows and the lower body rounds out. Thus, estrogen contributes to the production of fat, ensuring the reserves necessary for reproduction. In the event of a hormonal problem, when estrogen is not counterbalanced by progesterone or is produced in too large quantities, there is weight gain
- Progesterone: its mission is to prepare the mucous membrane for the implantation of the egg in the event of fertilization. In case of hormonal disorder or if there is no ovulation, there will be no production of progesterone.
At, hormonal changes are inevitable, but weight gain is not inevitable. So, yes, hormones make you fat, but there are also several ways to limit this phenomenon, or even to avoid it.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.