What Hormones Control Weight Around the Waist & Hips?
Hormones are chemical messengers produced by the body’s various glands and tissues. They are crucial in controlling a variety of physiological processes, including metabolism, appetite, and fat storage.
While factors like genetics, diet, and physical activity play pivotal roles in determining where fat is stored on the body, hormones also exert a powerful influence on the distribution of fat. In this article, we’ll explore the variety of key hormones that control weight around the waist and hips, as well as the mechanisms behind their effects.
How Excess Waist & Hip Weight Can Affect Your Health
Wanting to control waist and hip weight goes far beyond just aesthetics. Having high volumes of abdominal fat is linked to an increased risk of various health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For this reason, it’s important to monitor your weight distribution and make changes as necessary.
Types of Hormones That Affect Waist & Hip Weight
Understanding the role of hormones in the body’s storage of fat can be a vital step toward finding the right weight management process for you. Here are some of the hormones that have the strongest influence on weight storage around the waist and hips:
Insulin: The Blood Sugar Regulator
What is Insulin?
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It plays a central role in regulating blood sugar levels and facilitating the storage of excess glucose as fat.
When consuming carbohydrates, the body releases insulin to help transport glucose into cells for energy or storage. However, excess insulin production can cause insulin resistance, which can lead to the accumulation of fat in the abdominal region, specifically around the waist.
Balancing Blood Sugar Levels with Diet & Supplements
Here are a few methods for maintaining healthy levels of insulin:
- Limit sugary and refined foods. Minimize the consumption of sugary snacks and processed foods, as they can lead to insulin resistance and increased fat storage around the waist.
- Choose low-glycemic foods. Carbohydrates such as whole grains, vegetables, and legumes have a lower impact on blood sugar levels.
- Avoid free fatty acids (FFAs). Reports show that FFAs can cause insulin resistance in muscle and liver, which could lead to an increase in glucose and lipoprotein production.
- Eat smaller meals more frequently. Eating smaller and more balanced meals throughout the day helps maintain stable blood sugar levels, which can prevent insulin spikes and crashes.
- Support healthy insulin function with supplements. Supplements such as Pure Encapsulations’ RENUAL and Metabolic Xtra are designed to promote healthy metabolism.
Estrogen: The Female Hormone
What is Estrogen?
Estrogen, which regulates many processes in women’s bodies, is known to promote the growth of fat cells and inhibit their breakdown. Women tend to store more fat in the hips and thighs due to the presence of estrogen in these areas. During menopause, however, estrogen levels decline. Because of this, women may notice a shift in fat distribution toward the abdominal area.
Estrogen-Balancing Nutrition & Supplements
In order to support hormonal balance, consume foods like soy, flaxseeds, and legumes that contain phytoestrogens. These can help balance estrogen levels. In addition, essential fatty acids found in nuts, seeds, avocados, and fatty fish can support hormone production and regulation.
Supplements containing DHEA, an adrenal steroid hormone, may help by promoting hormone conversion into estrogens and androgens.
Testosterone: The Male Hormone
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and is also present in small amounts in women. It plays a role in regulating muscle mass and metabolism.
Testosterone promotes the accumulation of visceral fat, which is stored around the internal organs and is linked to increased health risks such as insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. In women with higher levels of testosterone, fat distribution may lean towards the abdominal region as well.
Testosterone-Balancing Nutrition & Supplements
Incorporating lean protein into your diet can support healthy testosterone levels. Sources include poultry, fish, lean meats, and plant-based options. Essential fatty acids can also support hormone production and regulation, and supplements such as Pure Encapsulations’ Tribulus Formula are thought to help maintain the body’s normal testosterone levels.
Cortisol: The Stress Hormone
What is Cortisol?
The adrenal gland produces the hormone cortisol in response to stress. While cortisol is essential for various bodily functions, elevated levels can have negative effects on weight distribution.
Prolonged stress can lead to chronically elevated cortisol levels, which are associated with increased abdominal fat storage. High cortisol levels can also lead to an increased appetite, particularly for sugary and fatty foods, which can further contribute to weight gain around the waist and hips.
Stress Management & Cortisol Control
Here are some methods for managing cortisol and reducing stress:
- Practice stress-reduction techniques. Engage in activities such as meditation, deep breathing, yoga, or mindfulness to reduce stress and cortisol levels.
- Get adequate sleep. Ensure you get enough quality sleep, as sleep deprivation can elevate cortisol levels.
- Get regular exercise. Physical activity helps alleviate stress and contributes to weight loss by influencing hormone balance.
- Support healthy cortisol levels with supplements. Cornerstone Pharmacy’s Adrenal Health is designed to promote a healthy stress response by supporting balanced cortisol levels.
Thyroid Hormones: The Metabolism Regulators
What Are Thyroid Hormones?
Thyroid hormones—primarily thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)—play a huge role in regulating metabolism. An underactive or overactive thyroid can affect body weight as well as fat distribution.
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, slows down metabolism and leads to weight gain. This makes it difficult to maintain a healthy weight and may lead to fat accumulation around the waist and hips. Conversely, hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, can lead to unintentional weight loss and changes in fat distribution.
Managing Thyroid Hormones & Metabolism
Extreme diets can negatively affect thyroid function, so be sure to consume a balanced diet with adequate carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Iodine-rich foods like seafood and seaweed are thought to support thyroid function. Regular exercise and supplements like Pure Encapsulations’ Thyroid Support Complex can boost metabolism and support overall thyroid health.
Ghrelin & Leptin: The Hunger Hormones
What Are Ghrelin & Leptin?
Ghrelin and leptin are two hormones that regulate hunger and appetite: ghrelin stimulates appetite, while leptin signals to your brain that you are full. Dysregulation of these hormones can lead to overeating and weight gain. Inadequate sleep can increase ghrelin levels, promoting hunger and potentially leading to overconsumption of calories and fat accumulation.
Managing Hunger Hormones
Here are a few ways to help manage hunger hormones:
- Eat balanced meals. Meals that include protein, fiber, and healthy fats help keep ghrelin in check and promote feelings of fullness.
- Eat mindfully. Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues. Avoid overeating and emotional eating, which can disrupt these hormonal signals.
- Manage sleep and stress. Prioritize quality sleep and stress management, as they also impact ghrelin and leptin levels.
- Support a healthy metabolism with supplements. HUM Nutrition’s Counter Cravings is designed to reduce cravings and boost your metabolism.
Contact Cornerstone Pharmacy & Compounding for Weight Management
Weight distribution around the waist and hips is a complex interplay of various hormonal influences. While genetics and lifestyle factors also contribute significantly to how our bodies store fat, hormones are also important to consider.
Consulting with a healthcare provider for personalized weight loss guidance is invaluable in your journey toward better health. If you have weight-related health concerns or are dealing with hormonal imbalances, reach out to the experts at Cornerstone Pharmacy & Compounding.
In addition to over-the-counter products and professional-grade supplements, we offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. The highly-trained pharmacists at Cornerstone Pharmacy & Compounding are dedicated to helping you improve your quality of life and will help you discover the right treatment to fit your needs.
