Many Americans are overweight, some more than others, according to several studies, including one from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It revealed that roughly 74% of the U.S. adult population is overweight, and that includes nearly 43% who are considered obese. Along with taking a toll on one’s mental health, carrying too much excess body weight can open the door to a plurality of health problems, some of which can cost them their lives if left untreated.
Multiple studies have linked being overweight or obese to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease, sleep apnea, and several cancers. Excess body weight also negatively affects joint health, according to one study from Harvard Health Publishing, the consumer health information division of Harvard Medical School (HMS). It revealed that being overweight increases the risk of osteoarthritis due to increased wear and tear on joints, which makes sense since excess weight places additional stress on weight-bearing joints, such as the knees, ankles, hips, and lower back.
What Causes Weight Gain?
There is no singular answer to the question of what causes weight gain. People can gain weight for a whole host of reasons, some of which are beyond their ability to control. Aging is one of them. When most people reach a certain age, their metabolism slows down. For those unaware, metabolism is the chemical reaction in the body’s cells that converts nutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, from food into energy.
The faster the chemical reaction, the easier it is for individuals to burn fat and avoid weight gain. The slower the reaction, the more difficult it is for them to burn fat, which means they are at a greater risk of gaining weight. The metabolism rate, also known as the basal metabolic rate (BMR), declines by 1% to 2% per decade for individuals aged 20 to 30 and 4% to 5% for individuals aged 40 to 50. That partly explains why many people become overweight or obese in middle age. Of course, hormonal imbalances can also cause some people to gain weight. One such imbalance is a human growth hormone (HGH) deficiency.
Low HGH Levels and Weight Gain
Whether it’s because of aging or something else, an HGH deficiency can trigger high leptin levels. Additional things that can cause an HGH deficiency and high leptin levels other than aging include pituitary tumors, head injuries, radiation treatments, brain surgery, and excessive alcohol consumption. When leptin, hormones produced by fat cells that regulate appetite, energy balance, and body weight, levels are too high, it can block satiety signals to the brain. That, in turn, can lead to overeating and weight gain. Above-average leptin levels can also cause the following:
- Cardiovascular disease and other heart problems
- Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
- Breast cancer in women
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Rabson–Mendenhall syndrome
- Neurodegenerative disorders
- Depression
- Chronic hunger
- Decreased energy burning and difficulty losing weight
High Cortisol Levels and Weight Gain
It is no secret that too much stress can affect an individual’s mental health. However, it can also affect their physical health by elevating cortisol levels in the blood. So that everyone is on the same page, cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, the glands located above the kidneys, and regulated by the pituitary gland, which sits at the base of the brain. Adequate levels of cortisol help regulate blood glucose levels, convert proteins and fats to energy, and stimulate appetite. It also helps provide energy for the fight-or-flight response, the automatic physiological reaction to an event that the mind and body perceive as stressful, frightening, or both.
High or above-average cortisol levels, however, can harm the body. Uncontrolled stress is one of many things that can contribute to high or above-average cortisol levels. Too much cortisol can elevate ghrelin, a hormone that increases appetite. Excess ghrelin encourages overeating and promotes fat storage, namely in the abdominal region. Both can lead to weight gain, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Along with weight gain, symptoms of high cortisol include the following:
- Acne
- Easy bruising
- Erectile dysfunction in men
- Fatigue
- High blood glucose levels
- High blood pressure
- Irregular menstrual periods in women
- Muscle weakness
- Osteoporosis
- Purple stretch marks
- Rounding of the face
- Thinning of the skin
Natural and Medicinal Ways To Combat a Hormonal Imbalance and Maintain a Healthy Weight
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can lower the risk of developing a hormonal imbalance and make achieving or maintaining a healthy body weight easier. Some of these habits include staying hydrated, consuming nutrient-dense meals, and exercising regularly. Getting the recommended 7 to 9 hours of deep, restorative sleep each night and minimizing stress by meditating or practicing yoga or tai chi, for example, can also help. For some people, medical weight loss, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or both might be in order.
The first generally entails getting a prescription for orlistat, GLP-1 agonists, or another medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. The second usually means getting a prescription for HGH or some other hormone replacement medication approved by the FDA to treat a hormonal imbalance. As far as how to buy HGH, hormone replacement, or weight loss drugs after getting a prescription from a physician, it’s best to buy them from a licensed online or brick-and-mortar pharmacy. Doing so lowers the risk of receiving counterfeit or expired medications and guarantees that your medications contain the correct dosage and active ingredients.
In summary, being obese or overweight can open the door to numerous health problems, including hormonal imbalances. Fortunately, the healthy lifestyle habits and medicinal treatments discussed in this article can help most people lose weight and combat or prevent hormonal imbalances. To learn more about weight management and maintaining good overall health, consider scheduling an appointment with a physician today.
