If you are always losing the weight loss battle, you’re not alone. There are approximately 108 million Americans on a diet, and it’s a good bet this isn’t their first time on the calorie-counting, waist-whittling journey. The average dieter makes at least four attempts a year.
But this has not put a dent in the obesity epidemic. More than 600 million adults worldwide are obese, a figure that is expected to climb along with the associated healthcare costs. Having excess body fat increases your risk of developing serious and life-threatening health conditions, including:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Some cancers
Diet? Exercise? Really?
Although opinions on dietary and exercise recommendations change with the latest study or fad, advice for losing weight has never varied much—weight loss takes a combination of eating less calories and exercising more. But if this is all it takes, why are so many people struggling with weight issues? Perhaps it’s time to rethink the cause of weight gain and the solution for obesity.
The Hormone Connection
Sara Gottfried, MD, author of “The Hormone Cure,” says most people with weight issues also have a hormone imbalance. Research has shown that several hormones, especially female hormones such as estrogen and stress hormones such as cortisol, play a role in appetite, fat storage, and weight regulation:
- Cortisol regulates metabolism and the stress response. Chronic stress leads to a high cortisol level, which has proven to increase belly fat. This hormone also affects the function of estrogen and testosterone.
- Estrogen regulates weight. Low estrogen increases appetite, while high estrogen increases belly fat in both men and women.
- Testosterone encourages muscle growth and impacts fat storage; low testosterone slows the metabolism and increases belly fat.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy and Weight Loss
If a hormonal imbalance is largely responsible for your extra pounds, hormone replacement therapy should help you lose weight. But some studies have shown that conventional hormones may be dangerous to your health. As a result, many frustrated dieters are turning to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
Bioidentical hormones are made from natural hormone sources, such as yam and soy, that are then manufactured to be identical to the hormones made by your own body. This type of hormone replacement therapy is individually formulated to address your hormonal needs.
If you have been a big loser at losing weight, don’t you owe it to yourself to give bioidentical hormone replacement therapy a try? All you have to lose is your belly fat, your extra pounds, and your risk of developing a host of serious diseases and health conditions.
To determine your hormonal needs, trust the experts at BodyLogicMD. BodyLogicMD-affiliated physicians thoroughly evaluate each patient utilizing state-of-the-art diagnostic tests to determine your unique bioidentical hormone needs. They will also help create realistic weight loss goals and develop a plan to accomplish them. Once you begin a BHRT regimen, your practitioner will continue to monitor and reassess your hormone levels, ensuring they are maintained and balanced for long-lasting health and wellness.