It’s beach body prep time, and a lot of folks are trying to shed a few extra pounds. If you are struggling to lose those pesky pounds, it may be from hormonal imbalance. Hormones play a crucial role in body fat distribution, particularly in women. Understanding this connection can help women target stubborn fat and achieve their body composition goals. Comprehensive testing is a valuable tool in identifying hormone imbalances that may be contributing to unwanted fat distribution.

The Sex hormones

According to Dr. Stephanie Faubion, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Women’s Health Clinic, “Hormonal changes throughout a woman’s life can impact her body composition and where she stores fat.” In women, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone play a significant role in determining fat distribution patterns. Women typically store more fat in their hips, thighs, and buttocks due to higher levels of estrogen. However, when hormone levels become imbalanced, fat can accumulate in other areas, such as the abdomen and upper body.

In our modern world, we are exposed to toxins and fake estrogen’s, called Xenoestrogens, daily! The barrage of these toxins is creating estrogen dominance – in all ages, and both sexes. As we age, and our hormones levels drop, the situation is exacerbated. Remember this, estrogen is like a magnet to fat, and excess fat, is like a magnet to estrogen. This causes a relentless vicious loop that leaves you stuck! It takes balancing the hormones and cleansing the body of the toxins to begin to see the fat melt.

Other hormonal imbalances

Cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone, is another hormone that can contribute to abdominal fat. Cortisol is released in response to stress, and chronic stress can lead to elevated levels of cortisol in the body. High cortisol levels have been linked to increased appetite, cravings for high-fat and high-sugar foods, and a shift in fat distribution towards the abdomen. This type of fat distribution is known as visceral fat and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

According to a study published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, “Stress-induced cortisol secretion has been shown to predict abdominal fat gain in women.” The study also found that “women who reported higher levels of stress had a greater accumulation of abdominal fat compared to women who reported lower levels of stress.”

Another hormone that can contribute to stubborn fat is insulin. Insulin is released in response to carbohydrates and helps to regulate blood sugar levels. However, when the body becomes resistant to insulin, as is often the case in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, it can lead to high insulin levels and increased fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area.

According to Dr. Christine Rosenbloom, a nutrition professor at Georgia State University, “Insulin resistance can cause fat cells to take up more glucose, leading to an increase in fat tissue.” A study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that “higher insulin levels and insulin resistance are associated with more abdominal fat in women.”

According to a study published in the journal Endocrine Reviews, “Hormones play a critical role in regulating adipose tissue development, distribution, and metabolism.” The study also states that “dysregulated hormone signaling can lead to abnormal fat distribution, which is associated with metabolic diseases such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.”

Hormone testing

Testing hormone levels is essential for anyone struggling with stubborn fat or abnormal fat distribution. Blood tests can be used to measure hormone levels, including estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and insulin.  As I discussed last week, I feel the best test on the market, to give you a comprehensive picture of your sex hormones, as well as cortisol levels, and the interplay between them, is the DUTCH test.

Accurate testing can identify hormone imbalances that may be contributing to unwanted fat distribution. Once an imbalance is identified, treatment should involve lifestyle changes, such as stress management techniques and dietary modifications, as well as various nutritionals and/or Bioidentical hormones to support hormone balance.

Real life stories

In my experience of 20 years working with women with hormonal imbalance, I have indeed seen the majority struggle with stubborn weight, especially belly fat. These women have been slogging it out at the gym, working with trainers, eating a super clean diet, and cutting calories, all to no avail. NOTHING will budge if there is hormonal imbalance, especially estrogen dominance.

After working with these same women – to balance their hormones, reduce stress, cleaning up the toxins in their body, the toxins in their home and personal care products, as well as supporting them to clean up their diet, these women are ecstatic because the pounds begin to melt away.

In conclusion, if you are like so many who are struggling to lose the pesky pounds, consider doing comprehensive hormone testing to rule out hormonal imbalances. Stop the sabotage of hormonal imbalances and begin to experience the benefits of your disciplined efforts! If you are interested in a $100 discount for the most comprehensive test on the market, use my code LDF100 and click here

References:

1. Faubion, S. S. (2020). Hormonal factors and adipose tissue distribution in women. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 95(11), 2469-2479.
2. Epel, E. S., McEwen, B., Seeman, T., Matthews, K., Castellazzo, G., Brownell, K. D., … & Ickovics, J. R. (2000). Stress and body shape: stress-induced cortisol secretion is consistently greater among women with central fat. Psychosomatic medicine, 62(5), 623-632.
3. Stanhope, K. L., Schwarz, J. M., Keim, N. L., Griffen, S. C., Bremer, A. A., Graham, J. L., … & Havel, P. J. (2009). Consuming fructose-sweetened, not glucose-sweetened, beverages increases visceral adiposity and lipids and decreases insulin sensitivity in overweight/obese humans. The Journal of clinical investigation, 119(5), 1322-1334.
4. Stumvoll, M., Goldstein, B. J., & van Haeften, T. W. (2005). Type 2 diabetes: principles of pathogenesis and therapy. The Lancet, 365(9467), 1333-1346.