Obesity is a complicated disorder caused by many things like how we live, our genetics and how hormones affect our body. Hormones have a very important role to play in the way we eat (appetite), how we use food for energy (metabolism), how we store fat and how much energy we take in from food (energy balance). If these hormones are not in balance it can lead to weight gain and/or difficulty losing weight. Therefore, knowing the main hormones involved in obesity will help explain why the problem of obesity is very complex, and it can’t just be blamed on the amount of food someone eats.
- Leptin – The hormone that tells you you’re full
Leptin is made from fat tissue and tells the brain that enough energy has been stored in your body. It is important to help control your appetite by telling you when you feel full.
In many cases of obesity, levels of leptin are high but the body has become resistant to the effects of leptin. This means that the brain does not respond appropriately to leptin’s signals, therefore continuing to eat even though you have enough stored energy (being overweight). Eventually, the increased appetite it causes makes it more difficult to lose weight because of the amount of fat you are adding keeps increasing.
- Ghrelin – The hormone that tells you you’re hungry (hunger)
Ghrelin is made primarily by the stomach and is responsible for stimulating the appetite. The levels of ghrelin in your body go up just before meals and go down after eating.
In a large percentage of people with obesity, the levels of ghrelin are not well regulated. The presence of excess levels of ghrelin in the body can lead to a greater sense of hunger as well as higher consumption of food. Another obstacle to weight loss is that when someone with obesity attempts to lose weight by eating less, this may cause their body to make more ghrelin than normal; therefore making it harder for them to maintain their current lower weight.
- Insulin: The Energy Storage Hormone
Insulin’s primary role in the body is to help regulate glucose levels. When glucose enters the bloodstream after eating food, insulin is released to transport it to cells for energy or stored in fat and muscle for future use. Insulin also can prompt the body to store both fat and carbohydrates inside fat cells.
Individuals with obesity have developed insulin resistance, meaning their bodies do not respond to insulin as well as they should. Due to this resistance, they are unable to effectively use stored fat for energy and only use glucose derived from food. Once the supply of glucose is diminished, they will want to begin eating again.
- Cortisol: The Stress Hormone
Cortisol is released from the adrenal gland in response to stress and plays an important role in helping the body cope with stressors or outside influences. Chronic stress and high cortisol levels can lead to increased fat deposits in the abdominal area because of an increase in appetite and cravings for high-fat/fried or sugary foods.
These four hormones highlight how obesity is not simply caused by overeating, but is an incredibly complex biological condition that will take time and commitment for individuals to modify their eating behaviour to improve their health.
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Additional Conditions That Could Affect Hormonal Balance
There are many other contributing factors to obesity and many other conditions that can interfere with hormonal balance, such as:
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Illnesses
- Medications
- Abnormal hormonal levels (either above or below normal)
It is well documented in several studies that obesity is not simply a result of poor eating habits or lack of physical activity, and much more research is needed on conditions affecting obesity. Understanding the complexities and causes of obesity will ultimately aid in developing effective treatment plans.
Thyroid Hormones: Metabolism Controllers
T3 and T4 hormones are produced by the thyroid gland to control metabolism, which is how quickly our bodies burn calories. If the thyroid does not work well, known as hypothyroidism, then metabolism typically is lower, leading to weight gain, fatigue, and difficulty losing weight. Even mild dysfunction of thyroid hormones over time can affect body weight.
Estrogen is another hormone that regulates how the body distributes fat, especially in females. When a woman experiences low estrogen levels, such as during menopause, fat accumulation typically goes to the abdomen instead of her hips and thighs. It is therefore possible that the low level of estrogen in a woman can affect her body composition, as well as increase her risk of being obese.
Like estrogen, testosterone is an important hormone for both women and men, in the maintenance of muscle mass and regulation of fat distribution. Testosterone deficiency can result in an increase of body fat as well as a decrease of muscle mass. Since muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, low amounts of muscle will lower the metabolism, ultimately leading to weight gain.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a neurotransmitter that stimulates food intake, chiefly carbohydrates. Neuropeptide Y is released in the body when the body is under stress or experiencing decreased energy level. Increased levels of neuropeptide Y will commonly encourage overeating and increase fat storage, particularly when an individual is both stressed out and/or restricting caloric intake.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1): Appetite Suppressor
A gut hormone called GLP-1 is released after food consumption. Among its functions, GLP-1 provides a sense of fullness (i.e., satiety) and slows down the action of food leaving the stomach (i.e., gastric emptying). Moreover, another key function of GLP-1 is to stimulate the secretion of insulin.
If outlets are not functioning or GLP-1 levels are diminished, the sensation of being full can decrease, leading to an increased desire to eat. This hormone also serves as a target for many new medicines meant to help with obesity.
Hormones and Obesity
There are no single hormones responsible for obesity; however, combinations of many hormonal imbalances, combined with factors from the surrounding environment and personal behavior, can produce obesity. Stress causes elevated production of cortisol that can, in turn, affect the production of both insulin and the hormones that regulate appetite, leptin, and ghrelin.
Conclusion
Hormones are critical to controlling a person’s body weight and metabolic processes. Hormonal imbalances—such as those found with leptin, ghrelin, insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones—can contribute significantly to obesity. Recognizing the hormonal contribution to obesity allows for a shift in view from blaming an individual for their disease to recognizing the biology surrounding it. Therefore, an effective strategy for managing and preventing obesity must involve a comprehensive plan, consisting of diet, exercise, stress management, and evaluation by a medical professional.
