Decreased levels of estradiol, an estrogen hormone, can cause weight gain or difficulty losing weight. Other factors can also affect estrogen levels. Decreased estrogen and progesterone levels, along with general aging, triggers metabolic changes in the body. One of the changes is the decrease in muscle mass, which causes fewer calories to be burned.
If fewer calories are burned, fat builds up. Genetics, lack of sleep and a sedentary lifestyle also play a role. It can be a vicious cycle. We lose muscle tone and accumulate more fat as our metabolism slows down, contributing to greater weight gain. Low estradiol levels during adolescence, perimenopause, and menopause can cause or contribute to weight gain.
Conversely, consistently high estradiol levels, such as during pregnancy or metabolic problems, often increase appetite. Anovulatory states related to low or constant levels of estradiol are associated with increased appetite. A low level of estradiol may not generate a sufficient anorexic response, while a high level of estradiol may attenuate anorexic effects. Therefore, estradiol is crucial in homeostatic nutrition during the normal menstrual cycle and in the prevention of obesity in women.
Estrogen levels that are too low or too high can contribute to weight gain or weight fluctuations. This is because estrogen plays a role in cholesterol metabolism, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. All of these factors can influence factors such as appetite, hunger, satiety and energy levels, which in turn can affect body weight. A woman receiving hormone replacement therapy may experience weight gain as a side effect.
This is especially true when the ratio of estrogen to other hormones is too high. It is crucial that a healthcare professional controls these levels to achieve a proper balance. The intricate interaction between these hormones contributes to the complex regulation of energy balance and body weight in women. If your family members also have more weight in the midsection, especially after menopause, you're more likely to do it too if nothing is done to prevent it.
This increase in estrogen is what triggers the development of certain sexual characteristics, such as breast growth, weight gain around the hips, and hair growth in the armpits and pubic area. While having a glass of wine or a cocktail once in a while won't completely lose your hormones, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends not consuming more than one alcoholic beverage a day to avoid harming the body. If you've committed to making the necessary lifestyle changes to control hormonal weight gain, but you're still not making any progress after 3 to 6 months, it's time to talk to a doctor. While factors such as diet and exercise influence body weight, genetic and hormonal imbalances, particularly related to sex steroids such as estradiol, also play an important role.
According to Vigil et al., the impact of estradiol on body weight regulation in women is substantial, since it influences the menstrual cycle and several signaling pathways and demonstrates synergistic effects with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP) receptor agonists to promote weight loss and possibly prevent neurodegeneration. Regular exercise is critical to maintaining hormonal balance and preventing weight gain over time. These hormones decrease more dramatically around menopause and can cause some unpleasant but common symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and weight gain. The risks of untreated hormonal weight gain can vary depending on the hormonal imbalance contributing to the weight gain.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can also be an important component of maintaining a healthy weight. Elimination of leptin receptors in vagal afferent neurons alters estrogen signaling, body weight, food intake, and hormonal dietary controls in female mice (140). Since this is the hormone that helps regulate appetite, metabolism, and weight, weight gain is more likely to occur. Understanding these interactions is essential to understanding the larger picture of how hormonal changes and regular menstrual cycles contribute to the homeostatic regulation of body weight in women.
