Abnormal Estrogen and Weight Gain: How Are They Connected
Estrogens are a group of hormones that predominantly help to maintain a healthy reproductive cycle and bone density.
Apart from its crucial role in various physiological processes, fluctuations in its level may cause weight gain.
These fluctuations in Estrogen levels mainly occur during the menopausal stage of life.
Almost 30% of post-menopausal women aged 50 to 59 are not only overweight but also obese.
Through this article, we will unravel the link between Estrogen and weight gain and learn more about the causes and methods to lose Estrogen induced weight gain.
Does Estrogen make you gain weight
The amount of Estrogen varies depending on the stage of your life.
Estrogen levels increase during puberty, fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, and significantly reduce after Menopause.
However, regular rise or fall of Estrogen may cause hormonal weight gain and needs medical supervision to know the cause better.
During the onset of Menopause in women, the body goes through a reduction in Estrogen levels and becomes an obesity-triggering factor.
Also, before Menopause, high Estrogen levels maintain the female body’s cholesterol levels and avoid weight gain.
However, during Menopause, reduced Estrogen increases bad cholesterol and increases the chances of weight gain.
Circulating Estrogen also maintains the Insulin action in the body.
However, with a decrease in the hormone, the blood glucose level may increase due to the low effect of Insulin.
Thus, Estrogen deficiency is associated with Insulin resistance and improper metabolic equilibrium and contributes to high chances of obesity.
Somehow, all these factors can affect appetite and satiety and, thus, contribute to weight gain.
Visceral fat due to low Estrogen
Visceral fat is a belly fat found in the abdominal section of the body and protects the stomach, intestine, and liver.
Women tends to carry much fat deposition in the hips and thighs throughout adulthood.
However, during and after Menopause, this weight gain, due to visceral fat deposition, is focused around the abdominal section of the body.
Visceral fat secretes a Retinol-binding protein 4, which is associated with Insulin resistance, and its high deposition may result in Type 2 Diabetes.
Further, visceral fats may cause:
- High blood pressure and narrowing of blood vessels
- Low-level inflammation
- Heart diseases
Moreover, after Menopause, women not only tend to store more fat in the abdomen, but they also burn less fat as compared to premenstrual women.
As a result, more fat is stored in their body and less fat burns that cause weight gain.
What type of Estrogen causes weight gain
Estrogen is a type of sex hormone, along with Progesterone, responsible for carrying the reproductive cycle and sexual characteristics.
Most Estrogen is produced in female ovaries, along with the adrenal gland, adipose tissues, liver, and mammary glands.
However, Estrogen is not a single hormone. It has three forms regulating the reproductive cycle at different phases of a woman’s life such as:
- Estrone (E1): Estrone is the form of Estrogen produced after Menopause in very less quantity
- Estradiol (E2): Estradiol is the form of Estrogen that is actively produced during the reproductive years of women
- Estriol (E3): Estriol is primarily associated with pregnancy
A significant decline in Estradiol after Menopause causes food intake and less metabolic functions, causing weight gain and obesity in women.
In what conditions Estrogen causes weight gain
There are a few health conditions where fluctuation in Estrogen levels causes weight gain:
Menopause
Menopause is associated with low Estrogen levels and causes significant weight gain in women.
Moreover, genetic conditions, sleep deprivation, improper diet, less exercise, and other factors after Menopause also cause weight gain.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
The fluctuation in female hormones due to PCOS may also cause weight gain.
According to research, there is a close link between PCOS and obesity in women due to the metabolic effects of Insulin resistance and other mechanisms.
How to lose Estrogen-induced weight gain
There are a few strategies to overcome Estrogen-induced weight gain issues after Menopause, such as:
Exercise
According to a report, the main cause of weight gain after Menopause is connected to an almost 40% reduction in physical exercise.
To lead a fit life after Menopause, it is recommended to include aerobic, strength, and balance exercises in your daily routine.
You can target 2 hours and 30 minutes of weekly aerobic exercise to seek positive results.
Moderate exercise can also be included, such as:
- Hiking
- Jogging
- Brisk walking
- Cycling
Moreover, you can include some muscle-strengthening exercises also. These are as follows:
- Push-ups and squats
- Heavy weightlifting
- Inclined cycling or walking
Women must also know their heart and breathing rates to keep a track record.
Yoga, meditation, and deep stretching can also be beneficial to cope with stress management after Menopause.
Proper diet
The food we consume also plays a significant role in producing and secretion of hormones.
Therefore, it becomes necessary to consume a highly nutritious diet and manage hormones by incorporating the following:
- Unprocessed or less processed foods
- Fiber-rich foods, including vegetables and plant-based fats, keep you fuller for longer
- Vegetables are rich sources of Magnesium, Iron, etc.
- Less alcohol consumption
- Fruits
You can also consult your doctor to suggest a proper diet plan depending on your health.
It will be beneficial to manage your weight gain after Menopause leading to a fit and healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion
Estrogen is a hormone predominantly associated with the reproductive cycle, sexual characteristics, and increasing bone density.
However, after Menopause, a significant decline in Estrogen and weight gain are linked to causing other health issues.
The decrease in Estrogen may cause fat deposition in the abdomen, causing Insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes.
Moreover, three forms of Estrogen regulate the reproductive cycle at distinct phases of life.
There are other conditions where changes in Estrogen and weight gain are connected, such as Menopause and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
Even after the hormonal imbalance after Menopause, a few strategies may help manage weight gain.
It includes exercises and a proper diet to incorporate into oneâs lifestyle.
You can also consult your doctor to suggest a proper diet plan containing various nutritional food items. It may help in leading a fit and healthy life.
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