Overweight and hormonal obesity

Excess or deficiency of hormones can cause changes in body mass composition and, consequently, lead to overweight and obesity. Which hormones contribute to the obesity disease? How to test hormones and how to ensure their proper level in the body?

Metabolism, i.e. all chemical reactions and the related energy changes taking place in cells, depend on hormones. Hormones are called signaling molecules produced and secreted by the endocrine glands. The organ which coordinates the action of hormones is the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus sends signals that regulate the secretion of hormones by the pituitary gland. In turn, the pituitary gland secretes hormones that directly affect the endocrine gland, e.g. the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and ovaries .

Hormones have different functions and most often affect several organs at the same time. They influence, among others. on blood glucose levels, adipose tissue content, as well as the nervous centers of hunger and satiety. During and after a meal, they instruct the body whether the food you eat is to be used as an energy source, stored as fat, or used for muscle building. Most hormones are closely related to each other, so dysregulation of one of them usually entails dysregulation of the others.

We suggest which hormones and how contribute to the formation of overweight (pre-obesity) and obesity.

Overweight and hormonal obesity - insulin

Insulin is secreted by the pancreas and lowers too high blood glucose after a meal. The release of insulin into the bloodstream is stimulated by carbohydrates (especially simple ones), amino acids and fatty acids from food. Thanks to insulin , glucose is transported to the liver, where its excess is stored in the form of glycogen (a spare form of glucose) or is converted into fatty acids, which are deposited in adipose tissue. In addition, insulin allows glucose to pass directly into the cells, which use it as an energy source. The greatest number of insulin receptors are found on fat cells, liver and skeletal muscle.

What affects insulin levels?

The cause of excess insulin (hyperinsulinemia) is frequent consumption of products with a high glycemic load, i.e. with a high content of simple carbohydrates, e.g. white bread and sweets. When consumed, glucose levels rise sharply ( hyperglycemia ) and insulin bursts in response. Then the pancreas produces more insulin, and if this cycle repeats over a long period of time, cells eventually begin to "ignore" the insulin and insulin resistance appears . In turn, insulin resistance increases insulin secretion even more. This creates a vicious cycle of dependence that is very common with obesity (especially abdominal, android) and can lead to type 2 diabetes.. In addition to the diet, insulin levels are adversely affected by a sedentary lifestyle, too long breaks between meals, chronic stress and certain medications, e.g. steroids. Very rarely the cause of excess insulin is caused by a cancer called insulinoma.

How do I test my insulin levels?

Insulin levels can be determined in the laboratory from blood, and the fasting value should be between 2.60-24.90 mIU / L, but preferably below 10 mIU / L. Insulin sensitivity can be assessed by measuring fasting glucose and insulin levels. On the basis of these two parameters, the HOMA (HOMA-IR, Homeostatic model assessment ) or QUICKI ( Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index ) is then calculated.

Abnormal insulin levels - what to do?

Too much insulin on an empty stomach can indicate insulin resistance and develop type 2 diabetes. Eat regular meals rich in dietary fiber (complex carbohydrates) as they are absorbed more slowly than simple carbohydrates and do not raise blood glucose and insulin levels rapidly. Also, engage in sports as regular exercise will make your muscle cells more sensitive to insulin.

Overweight and hormonal obesity - thyroid hormones: T3 and T4

Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are hormones secreted by the thyroid gland and regulate the functions of most tissues in the body, influencing, among others, on the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, energy changes and the activities of the peripheral nervous system. The thyroid gland produces mainly T3, which in the tissues produces several times more biologically active T4. Thyroid hormones are controlled by the pituitary hormone thyrotropin ( TSH ). When the amount of TSH increases, the levels of T3 and T4 decrease, and if the amount of TSH decreases, the levels of T3 and T4 increase.

What affects the level of thyroid hormones?

How much T3 and T4 is in the body at any given time is influenced by diet, amount of physical activity, chronic stress, medications taken, and pregnancy. Malfunction of the thyroid gland can be caused by autoimmune diseases, e.g. Hashimoto's disease , leading to hypothyroidism. Then the secretion of T3 and T4 by the thyroid gland decreases, which increases the secretion of TSH by the pituitary gland. Untreated hypothyroidism can cause obesity, as low T3 and T4 levels result in a slower metabolism, and the accumulation of fat and water.

How to test the level of thyroid hormones?

The diagnostics of thyroid function consists in examining the level of TSH, which is currently the most sensitive indicator of functional disorders of this organ. The level of fasting TSH is dependent on age and should be in the range of 0.3-4 mU / L in adults. However, it is believed that the values ​​above 2 mU / L with the co-occurring symptoms of hypothyroidism may already indicate disturbances in its functioning. The level of TSH is often determined together with the so-called free fractions of thyroid hormones - fT3 and fT4. From the point of view of weight problems, it is important to identify hypothyroidism (too high TSH level and too low fT3 and fT4), as it leads to weight gain.

Abnormal levels of thyroid hormones - what to do?

Proper diet and physical activity may not be enough to return to normal body weight, so in most cases the endocrinologist will prescribe medications to normalize thyroid hormone levels.