9 hormones that cause weight gain in women

Losing weight is a big challenge for many women, and sometimes hormones are the reason for not losing excess weight, so what are these hormones?

Hormones play a role in weight, so disturbing them can cause weight gain in some women. Here are the most important hormones that affect weight.

1- Thyroid hormones

The thyroid gland produces three different types of hormones that regulate metabolism, sleep, heart rate, growth, brain development, and a lot of different things.

Sometimes, a person develops hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism), which contributes to an increase in the weight of the patient in addition to some other symptoms such as:

-Depression

Constipation

-Tired

High cholesterol

Low heart rate.

In fact, hypothyroidism leads to fluid accumulation and retention in the body, which makes the patient appear bloated, as if they have increased a few grams.

2- Insulin hormone

The hormone insulin is produced by the pancreas, and it works to transport glucose into the cells of the body to be used as energy or stored as fat, with the aim of maintaining the level of sugar in the blood.

Eating too much processed and processed foods, alcohol, sugary drinks and unhealthy food can lead to what is known as insulin resistance.

In the event of insulin resistance, the cells are unable to distinguish the insulin carrying glucose, thus increasing its accumulation in the bloodstream leading to an increase in the level of sugar, weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

3- Leptin

Normally, the release of the hormone leptin signals you to feel full to stop eating.

But eating too much sugar and processed foods leads to providing your body with high levels of fructose, which turns into fats that are stored in the liver, abdomen and other areas of the body.

In general, fat cells secrete the hormone leptin, but eating foods rich in sugar and accumulating more fat in the body leads to the secretion of higher amounts of this hormone, which causes the body to sag and stop the brain from distinguishing the feeling of satiety to eat more fat and then gain weight.

4- Ghrelin

Also called the hunger hormone, it is secreted by the stomach, small intestine, brain and pancreas.

Releasing high levels of this hormone can cause weight gain, so the more you feel hungry, the more you eat.

In a previous scientific study, it was found that the level of this hormone was higher in obese people compared to others.

5- The hormone cortisol

This hormone is secreted by the adrenal gland, especially when a person feels stressed, depressed, anxious and angry.

But what is the role of this hormone specifically?

Energy regulation in the body: by classifying the types of energy that the body needs in its various tasks (carbohydrates, proteins, fats).

Energy mobilization: by transferring fat from stored and accumulated to the muscles to obtain energy.

But the increased secretion of the hormone cortisol causes an increase in insulin secretion in the body, an increase in the amount of fat accumulated, and thus weight gain.

6- Glucocorticoids

This hormone helps reduce inflammation in humans, and it is also secreted in order to regulate the use of sugar, fats and proteins in the body.

It was also found that this hormone helps in the process of breaking down fats and protein in the body, and reducing glucose, which increases the risk of insulin resistance, and thus weight gain.

7- Melatonin

Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland in the body, and it works to maintain a circadian rhythm.

Levels of this hormone increase in the evening hours until late at night and fall back early in the morning.

When levels of this hormone rise during sleep, the body temperature decreases slightly, so growth hormone is released to help the body repair the damage.

Unfortunately, many of us do not maintain this rhythm and order, which increases stress and ultimately leads to weight gain.

8- Estrogen hormone

An increase or decrease in the hormone estrogen in the body can cause weight gain, here is the explanation:

An increased level of estrogen is usually the result of increased ovarian secretion or a diet rich in estrogen. When hormone levels are high, the cells that produce insulin become stressed, causing an increase in blood sugar and an increase in weight.

The decrease in the level of estrogen, resulting from the pre-menopausal stage, the body begins to find another source for this hormone, which are fat cells, to convert energy into fat to obtain normal levels of the hormone and thus weight gain, especially in the lower part of the body.

9- Testosterone

This hormone helps burn fat, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve sexual desire.

A woman's testosterone is produced in the ovaries, but stress and age contribute to low levels of the hormone, which is associated with reduced bone and muscle density and a higher risk of obesity.