Weight Loss

Hormonal imbalance and weight loss resistance

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Many women think that menopause and weight gain go hand in hand — and that there’s nothing we can do to stop it (or reverse it). While it’s true that many women do become weight loss resistant during perimenopause, you absolutely can do something to change that!

You can start by being mindful of when, where, and how you eat. All of these factors affect both our hormonal balance and the way our bodies store fat and build muscle. A diet that limits carbohydrates and emphasizes quality proteins and fats provides the building blocks for all your hormones, including major hormones like cortisol and insulin, as well as minor hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. On the other hand, a diet that’s high in processed foods and sugar, but low in nutrients, can throw off your hormones and the delicate balance between them. A high-carb diet, for instance, encourages your body to produce excess insulin, which can lead to instability in blood sugar — a “sugar rush” followed by a “sugar crash.” And these fluctuations can trigger an overproduction of your stress response hormone, cortisol.

When you have consistently high levels of the major hormones, cortisol and insulin, it can lead to eating more and gaining weight. And from what the research tells us, weight gain itself leads to increased levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone in the body. We tend to think that fat tissue just “sits there” on our bodies, but instead, it’s actively producing hormones (mostly estrogen), which increases the amount of circulating sex hormones. Imbalances in sex hormones can lead to gaining even more weight and stronger weight loss resistance. And this troublesome feedback loop becomes especially apparent after menopause.

The great news is that by changing what you eat and how, you can help naturally reset the balance between your major and minor hormones. Our Personal Program for Weight Loss Resistance offers a specially formulated eating plan along with targeted nutrients and herbs shown to improve hormonal regulation.

But, it’s important to remember that there are also many emotional nuances to this equation, too. Cortisol, in particular, can be very troublesome if you have a lot of stress in your life. I explain this in detail — and much more about stubborn weight — in my book, The Core Balance Diet, which comes as part of the Personal Program.

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Last Modified Date: 12/01/2011
Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP