Do hormones affect weight?
Many women going through the perimenopause and menopause will experience unwanted symptoms. These can range from hot flushes to brain fog, night sweats to fatigue, and – you guessed it – weight gain.
The drop in oestrogen and fluctuating hormone levels that the menopause brings can lead to unwanted weight gain for many women. Our bodies tend to burn fewer calories than they did before the menopause. Weight distribution can also change, with visceral fat accumulating around the stomach.
Additionally, levels of a hormone called leptin – an appetite suppressant – decrease during the menopause. Meanwhile, levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin start to increase. This can often lead to over-eating, poor food choices and further weight gain.
Does HRT make you lose weight?
Whilst weight gain is a likely result of the perimenopause and menopause, this doesn’t make it mandatory.
There’s a common misconception that HRT can cause weight gain, but there is absolutely no evidence to support this.
In fact, the majority of women find that they lose weight with HRT. This is because restoring hormones to pre-menopausal levels causes the metabolism to also shift back into a pre-menopausal state.
Best HRT for weight loss
The type of HRT that most GPs will prescribe is synthetic and is delivered in a one-size-fits-all dose. As the hormone levels are not adjusted to your individual needs, this can lead to unpleasant side effects, including:
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Breast swelling and tenderness
- Vaginal bleeding
- Mood swings
- Nausea
Bioidentical hormones are derived from plant sources, and are chemically identical to the ones that your body naturally produces.
Standard HRT is prescribed to bring hormones within a ‘normal’ range. This range is based on the hormone levels of individuals aged from 18 all the way up to 90.
On the other hand, bioidentical HRT is designed to optimise your hormones to the levels they were at in your 20s and 30s – a level that is normal for you, not the general population.
Because they mimic your body’s own hormones, and are delivered at a level that is scientifically tailored to your exact needs, side effects are much less likely, making bioidentical hormones the best HRT for weight loss.
Hormone replacement therapy and weight loss – speak to the experts
BioID Health is a doctor-led clinic specialising in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
They can perform comprehensive blood tests to identify whether you are suffering from any specific hormonal imbalances that could be contributing to your weight gain.
Looking for Bio Id Hormone help? For more information, or to ask their experts any questions about the links between hormone replacement therapy and weight loss, get in touch with their knowledgeable team today.
You can give them a call on 0330 460 9999. Alternatively, fill in their online contact form and they will get back to you as soon as possible.
Alternatively talk to the team at The Slimming Clinic about our Menopause treatment plan.