Losing weight is one of the most difficult and frustrating things to do. Many factors contribute to weight gain, including genetics, diet, lifestyle, and hormones.
Hormones, which are chemical messengers, play an essential role in regulating metabolism and weight. Hormonal imbalances can cause weight gain, especially during menopause in women.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has become increasingly popular among people dealing with hormone imbalances that cause weight gain.
Let’s explore how hormonal imbalances contribute to weight gain and whether bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help with obesity.
How Hormone Imbalances Can Lead to Weight Gain?
Hormone imbalances are common in both men and women. It happens when you have too little or too much of one or more important hormones.
Hormones play a role in how your body sends signals about when it needs food and how it uses energy, so when certain hormones are out of balance, it can lead to weight gain through fat storage.
For example, estrogen is a hormone that regulates female reproductive functions. During menopause, estrogen levels decline, leading to hormonal imbalances and weight gain. It can also result in numerous other discomforting symptoms.
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy and Obesity
Bioidentical hormones are hormones that are chemically identical to the ones naturally produced by our bodies. They are metabolized along the same metabolic pathways as the hormones naturally produced by our bodies.
Bioidentical hormones are available in various forms, including injections, patches, and creams, and are prescribed and monitored by healthcare providers. Bioidentical hormones help to restore the hormonal balance that may have been disturbed due to aging, illness, stress, or environmental factors, allowing the body to function optimally.
These hormones can help manage a healthy weight by balancing out hormones whose imbalance leads to weight gain. For example, bioidentical estrogen can help restore estrogen levels and reduce weight gain by regulating metabolism and fat storage.
Similarly, bioidentical progesterone can also help reduce weight gain by regulating appetite, reducing fluid retention, and balancing estrogen levels.
Bioidentical hormones can also help with weight management by reducing cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone that regulates stress, and high levels of cortisol can lead to increased abdominal fat and weight gain. Bioidentical DHEA and pregnenolone can also help reduce cortisol levels, leading to weight loss.
BHRT can help balance out the hormones involved in weight gain, but it’s not the cure for obesity. It’s not a replacement for eating healthy foods and getting enough exercise. You need to combine BHRT with a healthy diet and exercise to get the best weight loss results.
Are You a Candidate for BHRT?
To find out if you’re a BHRT candidate, your doctor will perform a thorough assessment and order some tests, including lab tests to measure your current hormone level (commonly referred to as a hormone panel).
If you are a candidate, you will be prescribed a specific dose of bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, along with dietary modifications and physical activity.
Bioidentical hormones (e.g., testosterone and estradiol) are delivered in the form of pallets. These pallets are time-released and are placed just under the skin in your hip area. This allows your body to maintain a consistent hormone level for several months. Your doctor will carefully monitor your hormone levels every few months to ensure that therapy produces the required results.
If you are not a candidate for BHRT, your doctor can recommend medical weight loss, which may involve using proven prescription medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, along with in-depth dietary guidance and support to help patients shed their extra pounds.
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy in Dallas, TX
If you are having symptoms of hormone imbalances, like weight gain, and are looking for a solution, visit us here at North Dallas Wellness Center. We offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to individuals experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalances and prescribe weight loss medications such as semaglutide to help obese people.
If you would like to know more about BHRT or weight loss or want to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Fein, contact us today at (214) 696-3885 or fill out our online appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
