Hormones regulate many physical and mental functions of our body; any fluctuation and/or imbalance may affect the bodily processes. When there is a hormonal imbalance, a person may experience symptoms such as unintended weight gain. To address the issues of hormonal fluctuations, one must make lifestyle adjustments.
Tips to lose weight during hormone imbalance
Fluctuations or imbalance of weight-related hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, and cortisol affect metabolism and appetite, taking a toll on one’s waistline. Women are more likely to experience hormone surges, especially during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, gaining weight subsequently.
Mentioned below are ways to figure out whether the weight gain is due to hormonal changes and how you can lose weight despite the imbalance.
Assess yourself:
observe all the body changes that have been occurring alongside weight gain. Figure out if a surge of estrogen is affecting metabolism and causing the increase in appetite. There may be other reasons for weight gain such as limited physical activity or frequent binging on unhealthy foods.
Once you have found out the cause for weight gain, it is advisable that you increase the amount of physical activity. Exercising will help ease the side-effects of hormonal fluctuations. A study published in the Maturitas: The European Menopause Journal suggested that women with more involvement in physical exercises had less weight gain issues and menopausal symptoms.
Changes in hormonal levels may occur because of wrong food choices. To contain weight-related hormones’ functions, health experts recommend a diet high in protein and fibre. Foods such as meats, eggs, dairy, seeds, nuts, and legumes help one feel full and also keep a tab on cravings besides reducing overall caloric intake. Consulting a doctor before beginning a new diet is very important if you have a chronic condition or when you are on medication.
Seek the advice of others who have experienced the same problem. Enrolling in a support group will help you stay on course with your weight loss regimen. Ask for a doctor’s help if you don’t see any changes in you after making lifestyle modifications for weight loss. Discuss your treatment options with him/her when your hormonal issues are disrupting your daily life by making you gain weight.
Hormones control almost every aspect of how we gain weight. Therefore, it is important to maintain hormonal functions.
Image Source: Getty