Calculating Your Protein Target For Weight Loss - Levity
Dr Ashwin Sharma
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Jul 29, 2024
Our Levity experts unpack what protein is, why it's important and how to calculate how much protein you should be eating during your weight loss journey.
Hormones play a crucial role in weight gain, influencing how our bodies store and use energy. Two conditions where hormonal changes can impact weight are Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and menopause.
PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects how a woman's ovaries work and affects 1 in every 10 women in the UK. It is one of the most common causes of female infertility and it can increase chances of developing health conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. [1]
Many women with PCOS have imbalances in hormones like insulin and sex hormones like testosterone. Insulin resistance, a common feature of PCOS, leads to increased insulin levels. Elevated insulin can cause the body to store more fat, particularly around the abdomen. Additionally, imbalances in sex hormones (known as androgens) can contribute to weight gain, making it challenging for people with PCOS to maintain a healthy weight. [1]
Menopause marks the period in a woman’s life when menstruation ceases and it typically happens between the ages of 45 and 50 and is associated with significant hormonal changes, including a decline in oestrogen levels. The reduction in oestrogen can lead to weight gain for at least 50% of women, especially around the abdomen and upper body. Oestrogen helps regulate body weight by influencing where fat is stored and how it is used for energy, for example in reproductive years, fat is stored in hips and thighs. In menopause, fat shifts to the abdomen and lower body. The decline in oestrogen during menopause may disrupt this balance, contributing to increased fat accumulation, and a visceral fat increase from 5-8% total body weight to 10-15% total body weight (visceral fat is a harmful type of fat that wraps around your organs). [2]
Here our experts discuss how other hormonal imbalances, such as elevated cortisol levels, insulin resistance, or thyroid dysfunction, can contribute to weight gain by affecting metabolism, appetite regulation, and fat storage in the body.
Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels. When cells become resistant to insulin, as seen in conditions like PCOS, the body compensates by producing more insulin. This is called hyperinsulinemia. High insulin levels can stimulate the storage of fat, leading to weight gain. [3] Managing insulin resistance through lifestyle changes, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, is crucial in controlling weight in conditions like PCOS.
Cortisol is a hormone that helps regulate your body’s stress response and metabolism, suppress inflammation and regulate blood sugar, amongst many other important functions. Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels, which can lead to persistent high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) which can cause type 2 diabetes. If you have consistently high levels of cortisol, your body can get used to having too much cortisol in your blood leading to inflammation and a weakened immune system. Stress management techniques, such as mindfulness, breathing exercises as well as maintaining good sleep and relationships are recommended to help lower cortisol levels. [4]
Thyroid hormones, crucial for regulating metabolism, can impact weight. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can slow down metabolism (the process that turns food into energy), leading to weight gain. Conversely, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can result in rapid weight loss. Proper diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders are essential for maintaining a healthy weight. If you are concerned about thyroid hormones you should speak about it with your healthcare provider who can prescribe treatment. [5]
Traditional weight loss methods like diet and exercise alone often fail to address weight gain caused by hormonal imbalances. This is because hormonal imbalances make the body more resistant to losing weight and therefore you need GLP-1 weight loss medications tha promotes feelings of fullness, slow gastric emptying, and improve insulin sensitivity by mimicking a natural hormone. [6] These medications essentially reset the metabolic environment making them more effective than diet and exercise alone.
In summary, hormonal imbalances can significantly influence our weight — that’s why understanding the role of hormones is crucial in managing and preventing weight gain.
At Levity we offer a range of GLP-1 medications that can help with hormonal weight gain, plus included in your monthly medication costs is your initial consultation, prescription, medication – which we’ll deliver to your door each month – shipping, and unlimited clinical check-ins. To learn more about weight loss medications and if they are right for you below.
1. NHS. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [Internet]. NHS. 2022. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/
2. BRITISH MENOPAUSE SOCIETY Tool for clinicians Information for GPs and other health professionals Menopause: Nutrition and Weight Gain [Internet]. Available from: https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/19-BMS-TfC-Menopause-Nutrition-and-Weight-Gain-JUNE2023-A.pdf
3. Cleveland Clinic. Insulin resistance: What it is, causes, symptoms & treatment [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic; 2021. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22206-insulin-resistance
4. Cleveland Clinic. Cortisol: What It Is, Function, Symptoms & Levels [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. 2021. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol
5. NHS. Overview - Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) [Internet]. NHS. 2021. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid-hypothyroidism/
6. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2021 Feb 10;384(11):989–1002. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
Our Levity experts unpack what protein is, why it's important and how to calculate how much protein you should be eating during your weight loss journey.
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Wondering how to start using an injectable GLP-1? Get all the information you need from our experts here.
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