Weight gain is often associated with overeating and can be caused by various hormones going berserk. Gaining weight is easy, losing it is not. Various triggers, such as stress, age, genes, and improper lifestyle, can cause a hormonal imbalance that leads to obesity.
We identified 9 hormones that cause an imbalance in the body, resulting in weight gain. Also, we will tell you how you can control these hormones. Keep reading!
Which Hormone Causes Weight Gain
7. Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness. While we sleep, the body releases growth hormones that help the body heal, improve body composition, and build lean muscle mass.
But if we don’t sleep well, this healing process is disrupted, leading to stress and ultimately leading to inflammation-induced weight gain.
How to avoid it:
- Don’t eat late at night or before bed.
- Get enough sleep.
- Sleep in a cold, darkroom.
- Turn off all devices before going to bed.
6. Ghrelin
Secreted primarily by the stomach, ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone. Ghrelin stimulates the appetite and increases fat deposition.
Ghrelin levels are also high when people are on a restricted or fasted diet.
How to avoid it:
- Workout regularly.
- Eat every 2-3 hours.
- Drink 1 ½ cup of water 20 minutes before meals.
- Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in protein.
5. Leptin
Leptin is a hormone that regulates the body’s energy balance by inhibiting hunger. But when we eat foods that are high in sugar, excess fructose turns into fat that is deposited in the liver, abdomen, and other parts of the body. These fat cells secrete leptin.
As more and more leptin is secreted, the body becomes desensitized to it. This prevents the brain from receiving signals to avoid eating.
How to avoid it:
- Avoid foods high in sugar. Eat no more than 3 servings of fruit a day.
- Eat vegetables with dark green leaves.
- Avoid processed foods.
- Sleep well. 7-8 hours of sleep per day is recommended.
- Keep hydrated!
4. Estrogen
Estrogen is the main female sex hormone. Any imbalance in the levels of estrogen in the body can lead to weight gain.
High levels of estrogen in the body can be due to overproduction of the hormone or due to a diet rich in estrogen.
When estrogen levels rise, the insulin-producing cells become stressed. This makes it resistant to insulin, which increases the level of glucose in the blood and leads to weight gain.
Premenopausal women have lower levels of estrogen. To replenish the supply of estrogen, the body begins to look for other sources that produce estrogen.
One of those sources is fat cells. When estrogen levels drop, the body begins to convert all available energy sources into fat to replenish glucose levels. This leads to weight gain.
How to avoid it:
- Eat whole grains, vegetables, and fresh fruits.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Get regular exercise.
- Avoid processed meat.
3. Progesterone
The level of progesterone and estrogen must be balanced in the body for it to function properly. Progesterone levels can drop due to a variety of reasons, such as stress, use of birth control pills, menopause, etc. This can result in weight gain and depression.
How to avoid it:
- Get regular exercise.
- Try meditation.
- Avoid stress.
2. Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands when you are depressed, anxious, stressed, nervous, angry, or physically injured.
Its main function is to lower stress levels, increase blood sugar levels, suppress the immune system, and aid in the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
But given our often poor lifestyle choices, our bodies can be in a constant state of stress, making cortisol secretion detrimental to our overall health, aiding in visceral fat deposition, and stimulating maturation of fat cells..
How to avoid it:
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Avoid processed foods, fried foods, and alcohol.
- Practice deep breathing, yoga, and meditation for at least an hour every day. This helps reduce stress levels.
- Spend time with your family and close friends. There is no better way to relax!
1. Insulin
Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas. It helps transport glucose into cells to use it for energy or store it as fat, thus maintaining blood glucose levels.
Consuming too many processed foods, unhealthy snacks, alcohol, or artificially sweetened beverages can cause the body to develop insulin resistance.
This prevents muscle cells from recognizing glucose-bound insulin, which causes glucose to remain in the bloodstream. This causes an increase in blood sugar levels, leading to weight gain and type 2 diabetes.
How to avoid it:
- Eat green leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits, and vegetables in season.
- To improve your levels of omega-3 fatty acids, eat fatty fish, walnuts, olive oil, and flax seeds.
- Drink at least 4 liters of water every day.
- Start exercising at least 4 hours a week.
- Avoid alcohol, late-night snacks, carbonated, and artificially sweetened beverages.
Although some of the hormone names may seem complicated, we are sure that you have already figured out which hormone is probably causing you to gain weight. Let us know in the comments below.
