Guest Blog – Hormonal Imbalance and Overeating – Is There A Connection?
Kristen Jakobitz, INHC, PN1
Kristen Jakobitz is a holistic health and hormone coach, food addiction coach, entrepreneur, and writer. You can find her crafting new chill recipes, doing strength workouts, or sipping cinnamon tea while admiring a beautiful sunset. Follow her on Twitter at @KristenJakobitz.
Hormonal Imbalance and Overeating – Is There A Connection?
Are you experiencing weight gain due to excessive eating? Can’t figure out the main reason behind overeating? Then you should know that hormonal imbalance can have a significant impact on your eating patterns and weight.
Hormones are substances that act as messengers. They are also responsible for regulating different processes in the body.
Hormones that can affect appetite and body metabolism are leptin, growth hormones, and sex hormones. Let’s dive into the details as to how hormonal imbalance may lead to overeating and weight gain.
Leptin:
The hormone leptin is produced by adipose tissue. It plays an important role in regulating energy balance. [1] Maintaining stable levels of this hormone prevents overeating after consuming a balanced meal.
The leptin and the brain can’t communicate properly in leptin resistance due to a lack of leptin signaling. As a result, the leptin levels keep on increasing but the brain is unable to recognize them. The brain thinks that the person is still hungry, which ultimately stimulates overeating and increases the potential for weight gain. The leptin levels in overweight people are four times higher than the normal level. [2]
Cortisol:
Adrenal glands release a hormone called cortisol whenever the body is under stress. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone. Acute stress is not a big deal as humans can cope with it. But in the modern era, most people are under chronic stress, which results in the overproduction of cortisol on a continual basis.
Imbalanced production of cortisol then triggers the appetite [3] and urges a person to eat more and more. It also results in poor immune function, fat accumulation in the abdominal area [4], and loss of muscle mass.
Estrogen and Progesterone:
Eating behaviors, metabolism, and appetite can be greatly influenced by the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. One of the main functions of estrogen is to encourage fat storage that is necessary to carry out reproductive functions.
Any fluctuations in the levels of estrogen during the menstrual cycle for women can affect the eating patterns that ultimately result in weight gain. Research shows that in the luteal phase, females tend to consume more calories than in the follicular phase. [5] This is because, during the luteal phase, there’s more production of progesterone. [6]
Insulin:
Insulin, secreted by the pancreas, plays an important role in maintaining blood sugar levels. After a meal, insulin is released into the bloodstream and transfers the glucose into cells. [7]
When there is excess production of insulin, it may lead to insulin resistance. People who overeat and consume sugary, processed carbohydrates are more prone to develop insulin resistance. They often suffer from impaired brain insulin signaling, which can lead to metabolic syndrome.
Other Hormones:
Other hormones whose imbalance may result in overeating include:
- Ghrelin
- Glucagon-like Peptide
- Cholecystokinin
- Thyroid
Conclusion:
Hormones have a strong connection with eating behaviors and appetite. It can be tricky to navigate, but we can control hormonal imbalance by eating a proper diet, managing stress levels, and by minimizing exposure to exogenous estrogens. We can say that the key to hormonal balance is hidden in a healthy lifestyle.
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References:
- Oswal, Ashwini, and Giles Yeo. “Leptin and the control of body weight: a review of its diverse central targets, signaling mechanisms, and role in the pathogenesis of obesity.” Obesity2 (2010): 221.
- Considine, Robert V., et al. “Serum immunoreactive-leptin concentrations in normal-weight and obese humans.” New England Journal of Medicine5 (1996): 292-295.
- Vicennati, Valentina, et al. “Stress‐related development of obesity and cortisol in women.” Obesity9 (2009): 1678-1683.
- Spencer, Sarah J., and Alan Tilbrook. “The glucocorticoid contribution to obesity.” Stress3 (2011): 233-246.
- Barr, Susan I., K. Christina Janelle, and Jerilynn C. Prior. “Energy intakes are higher during the luteal phase of ovulatory menstrual cycles.” The American journal of clinical nutrition1 (1995): 39-43.
- Hirschberg, Angelica Lindén. “Sex hormones, appetite and eating behaviour in women.” Maturitas3 (2012): 248-256.
- Gallagher, Emily J., Derek LeRoith, and Eddy Karnieli. “Insulin resistance in obesity as the underlying cause for the metabolic syndrome.” Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine: A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine5 (2010): 511-523.
The post Guest Blog – Hormonal Imbalance and Overeating – Is There A Connection? appeared first on Food Addiction Coach.
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