Is An Imbalance In Your Sex Hormones Causing Your Excess Weight?

Changes in the levels of sex hormones during various stages of a woman’s life influence her tendency to gain weight. They also influence where the extra fat (adipose) tissue will be deposited.

Some women put on weight during the premenstrual phase of their cycle, and this can be due to estrogen dominance (excess estrogen effects) manifesting as cellulite and/or fluid retention. They also have adverse mood changes and increased cravings during this time. It is important to avoid high carbohydrate foods during this time. Natural progesterone can improve the mood, reduce anxiety and overcome estrogen dominance. Natural progesterone is effective when administered as a cream in a 10 percent strength massaged into the skin of the inner upper thigh at the same time daily. The cream is stopped on the first day of menstrual bleeding for 10 days and then recommenced.

Progesterone deficiency is common during the perimenopause and after childbirth, and is easily helped with natural progesterone treatment. Natural progesterone can help to reduce unwanted weight gain due to hormonal imbalances.

During menopause, the lack of estrogen leads to a shift of fat to the midsection. This abdominal fat increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease. This means it is important to reduce the carbohydrate content of your diet.

Some women put on excess weight during pregnancy and this is due to their liver’s inability to cope with high levels of sex hormones during pregnancy and increased insulin resistance.

Improving the liver function can help to overcome hormonal imbalances that cause weight gain.

In some women with a pituitary tumor (such as a pituitary adenoma), hormonal imbalances such as thyroid problems, elevated prolactin levels and disturbed adrenal gland function can lead to easy weight gain. It is important to see an endocrinologist if you have problems with your pituitary gland.

As always, feel free to talk to or email your Weight Loss Detective about the best supplements to provide these nutrients, as well as the best blood tests to evaluate your hormones.

Natural progesterone therapy can often help these pituitary problems. Supplements containing selenium, iodine, zinc and vitamin D can help to reduce pituitary gland problems such as cysts and adenomas. In overweight people with pituitary tumors, a low carbohydrate diet can help to shrink the tumor size.