Although it may not seem like it at first, obesity and hormones have a very important relationship in our body.
Obese people have hormone levels that promote the accumulation of body fat. Leptin, insulin, estrogen, androgen, cortisol and growth hormone influence our appetite, metabolism and body fat.
They are chemical messengers that regulate the metabolic processes in our body. And one of the factors in causing obesity. The hormones leptin and insulin, sex hormones, cortisol and growth hormone influence appetite, metabolism (the rate at which our body burns calories for energy), and the distribution of body fat. People who are obese have levels of these hormones that promote abnormal metabolism and body fat accumulation.
A set of glands, known as the endocrine system, secretes hormones into our bloodstream. The endocrine system works with the nervous system (in the sense that they transmit messages or signals, in the case of hormones, through the bloodstream) and the immune system to help our body cope with different situations and stresses. Excesses or deficiencies of hormones can lead to obesity, and obesity can lead to changes in hormones.
Risks of obesity
Hormones related to obesity
As you can see, obesity and hormones are closely related to your health. The following are some of the most closely related ones.
CORTISOL
When fat accumulates in the presence of cortisol it is visceral fat (surrounds the viscera) to facilitate mobilization since the blood vessels in these areas are larger and it would be used more quickly. This type of obesity is related to the development of cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases..
The response to cortisol depends on each individual, not all of us respond to the same situation in the same way. Cortisol also indirectly influences appetite by regulating other chemicals that are released during stress such as CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone), leptin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY).
It is advisable to eat well, get enough rest and do some outdoor exercise. If possible, some method for stress management should also be included in those people with elevated cortisol levels.
Cortisol, if pathologically elevated, is produced by an adenoma of either the adrenal or pituitary gland (Cushing's syndrome). It can also be caused by various treatments that use cortisone.
LEPTIN
The hormone leptin is produced by fat cells and secreted into our bloodstream. Leptin reduces a person's appetite by acting on specific centers in their brain to reduce their desire to eat.. It also appears to control how the body handles its body fat stores. Because leptin is produced by fat, Leptin levels tend to be higher in obese peopleHowever, despite having higher levels of this hormone, people who are obese are not as sensitive to the effects of leptin. As a result, they tend not to feel full during and after a meal.
INSULIN
Insulin, Produced by the pancreas, it is important for the regulation of carbohydrates and fat metabolism. Insulin stimulates the uptake of glucose from the blood into the tissues.. This is an important process to ensure that energy is available for daily operation.
In an obese person, insulin signals are sometimes lost. In this case, the tissues are no longer able to control glucose levels. This can lead to the development of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
NEUROPEPTIDE Y (NPY)
It is a powerful appetite stimulant. When stress occurs, NPY levels increase. This causes, among other things, increased heart rate and blood pressure. There is a connection between stress, high-calorie diets and weight gain.
Stressed and unstressed mice were fed a normal diet and a high-calorie diet. Stressed and unstressed animals ate the same high-calorie food. However, stressed animals used and stored fat differently, and gained twice as much weight.
The results suggest that Obesity caused by stress and diet could be reversed or prevented.Thus turning people who suffer from them into potential heart patients or diabetics.
SEXUAL HEALTH
It seems like Estrogens and androgens help decide the distribution of body fat. Estrogens are sex hormones produced by the ovaries in premenopausal women. They are responsible for triggering ovulation in each menstrual cycle. They are also found in men, since In fat there is an enzyme that transforms the testosterone in estradiol. This is an estrogen and can produce gynecomastia, thus decreasing the levels of free testosterone in the male hormone cycle.
In younger men, androgens are produced in high levels in the testicles. As a man ages, these levels gradually decrease.
Changes in the levels of sex hormones in men and women are associated with changes in body fat distribution. Women of childbearing age tend to store fat in their lower body. Older men and postmenopausal women, on the other hand, tend to store more fat around their abdomen.
THE GROWTH HORMONE
The pituitary gland produces growth hormone.. It influences a person's height and helps build our bones and muscles. Growth hormone also affects metabolism. Researchers have found that growth hormone levels in obese people are lower than in people of normal weight..
Ghrelin
Known as the hunger hormone, ghrelin plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and food intake. This hormone is produced primarily in the stomach and is released in response to the feeling of an empty stomach. When ghrelin levels increase, it sends signals to the brain that increase the feeling of hunger, promoting the desire to eat even if it is not necessary from an energetic point of view.
Ghrelin levels typically increase before meals and decrease after eating. However, in some people, these levels may be dysregulated, leading to excessive production of ghrelin. This excess can lead to increased feelings of hunger and, therefore, increased food consumption. Furthermore, high ghrelin can influence food choices, favoring higher-calorie, less healthy foods, which can make weight loss even more difficult.
Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3)
Thyroid hormones, primarily thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), play a key role in regulating the body's metabolism. These hormones, produced by the thyroid gland, influence the rate at which the body burns calories and converts food into energy. A proper balance of these hormones is essential for maintaining a healthy metabolism and optimal body weight.
When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, a condition known as hypothyroidism occurs. In this condition, levels of T4 and T3 are below normal levels, which can lead to a significant reduction in the body's metabolic rate. This slowing of the metabolism means that the body burns fewer calories at rest and during physical activity, which can result in an accumulation of unburned calories as fat.
Estrogens
In women, imbalances in estrogen levels can have a significant impact on fat distribution and the ability to lose weight. These hormonal imbalances are common in various conditions and life stages, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and menopause, and can affect how the body stores and burns fat.
In the case of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormonal condition in women of reproductive age, elevated androgen levels and insulin resistance can interfere with normal estrogen levels. This can lead to an accumulation of fat in typically masculine areas, such as the abdomen and waist. Women with PCOS often face difficulties in losing weight due to these hormonal imbalances and a possible decrease in metabolic rate. In addition, high insulin levels can promote fat storage and hinder the body's ability to use fat as an energy source.
Inflammatory factors
Obesity is also associated with chronic low-grade inflammation in fat tissue. Excessive fat storage leads to stress reactions within fat cells. These in turn can lead to the release of pro-inflammatory factors from the fat cells themselves and immune cells in the adipose (fat) tissue.
Obesity and hormones: risk factors
Obesity is associated with an increased risk of a number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, stroke and various types of cancer, and with a decrease in longevity (shorter life span), lower quality of life and lower sexual performance. Appetite regulation is an extraordinarily complex process that is only now beginning to be understood. Recent research shows that it is possible to act on the multiple factors that affect it and that these actions must be interconnected with others such as control of caloric intake, control of the glycemic index, food composition, habits and lifestyle, and exercise.
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