Key Takeaways

• Hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can influence a person’s body weight.

• At menopause, a woman’s estrogen and progesterone levels drop dramatically.

• As a man ages, his testosterone levels also drop, although this happens more gradually.

• Low estrogen or testosterone levels are associated with weight gain.

• Low hormone levels particularly trigger fat tissue to accumulate around the abdomen. Fat in this location is associated with significant health risks.

• Weight loss can help to balance hormone levels, which makes continued weight loss easier. This can be achieved through lifestyle changes, sometimes along with weight loss medications known as GLP-1 RAs.

Hormones are chemical messengers that cells in the body use to communicate with each other. There are a large number of different hormones currently known, and researchers are actually still discovering new ones. While we’re still learning more, we already have a lot of knowledge about the effects of many hormones on tissues throughout the body.  

Hormones can affect body weight and imbalances in hormone levels can lead to weight gain. They can also shift where the body stores fat tissue, which in turn changes the health effects of that tissue. As people’s hormone levels change – whether because of a medical condition or the aging process – their body weight may change as well.

How hormone levels differ in men and women

Male and female bodies actually have the same hormones. However, the levels of some of these hormones differ, based on a person’s biological sex. These are sometimes known as “sex hormones,” and they have a wide variety of effects throughout the body – including affecting the body’s storage of fat tissue. 

The main sex hormones are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Women have higher levels of estrogen and progesterone, and lower levels of testosterone. Men have the opposite, with higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of estrogen and progesterone.

Besides the different hormone ratios, another difference between men and women is how their hormone levels change over time. Women experience a sudden shift in hormone levels at menopause, which usually occurs in a woman’s late 40s or early 50s. At this point, estrogen and progesterone levels drop dramatically. Testosterone levels drop as well, although not as much. Many women experience symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats with the rapid drops in hormone levels.

Although men don’t experience menopause, their hormone levels do drop over time. Starting around age 35 or 40, a man’s testosterone levels drop by an average of 0.5% to 1% per year. Although the shift is more gradual, this can still lead to a significant decline in testosterone levels as a man ages.

When their hormone levels drop, both men and women commonly experience symptoms like mood swings, fatigue, and a loss of muscle mass and bone density. In addition, they may notice changes in how much fat tissue their body stores, and where on the body this tissue is located.

How do hormones affect body weight?

In general, estrogen triggers the body to store fat tissue. Women’s bodies have a higher fat percentage than men’s bodies, and their higher estrogen levels are believed to be at least part of the explanation for this. A female body needs to maintain enough extra fat reserves to sustain a pregnancy, while a male body doesn’t have this need.

Because of this, if a woman’s estrogen levels are high, this can lead to weight gain. However, the story of estrogen and body weight is not simple. In fact, the drop in estrogen levels at menopause is also associated with weight gain. Women who have gone through menopause are three times more likely to have obesity than those who have not gone through menopause yet.

In men, testosterone plays an important role in regulating body weight. Low testosterone levels are strongly associated with greater fat mass as well as reduced muscle mass. While low testosterone levels can lead to weight gain, obesity itself also reduces testosterone levels. As a man ages and his testosterone levels drop, this can lead him to gain weight, and then the excess fat tissue further reduces his testosterone levels.

Hormones and metabolic health

Testosterone and estrogen are also both known to be important in maintaining insulin sensitivity throughout the body. This allows the body to process food without large spikes in blood sugar. When insulin resistance develops, then insulin levels will rise, as the body attempts to compensate.

Insulin promotes the storage of calories as fat. Because people who have insulin resistance have high insulin levels, they will tend to gain weight. Weight gain actually makes insulin resistance worse. This can unfortunately lead to a frustrating cycle, where insulin resistance leads to weight gain, which leads to more insulin resistance. 

A drop in estrogen levels, like that experienced by women around menopause, can cause insulin resistance. Similarly, a drop in testosterone levels, like that experienced more gradually by men as they age, can also lead to insulin resistance.

Location of fat tissue and its importance

Changes in hormone levels can also affect where men and women’s bodies store fat. High estrogen levels in women cause fat to be stored primarily around the hips, thighs, and buttocks. When estrogen levels drop after menopause, this triggers weight to shift more towards the abdomen. Testosterone is also associated with weight gain around the abdomen. However, men have a higher tendency to accumulate abdominal fat, compared to premenopausal women. This is likely due to men’s higher dietary fat uptake and possibly hormonal regulation.

Fat tissue on the abdomen is associated with visceral fat, which is a type of fat that’s spread through the organs. This type of fat is the most damaging to a person’s health, and significantly increases the risk of many serious health conditions, like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

By contrast, fat tissue in other areas is more likely to be subcutaneous fat, which is located just beneath the skin and is much less risky from a health perspective. 

Hormonal imbalances and what you can do about it

Low estrogen in women is most commonly due to menopause, while low testosterone in men is typically caused by aging. Other factors, such as autoimmune or genetic conditions, sleep disorders, and being overweight, can also disrupt hormone levels. If you suspect an imbalance, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

Addressing hormone imbalances can often involve hormone replacement therapy, which helps restore normal levels. However, it’s essential to discuss the potential risks and benefits with your doctor before starting treatment.

Lifestyle changes like regular exercise and a balanced diet are key for weight loss, as they can naturally help rebalance hormones. In some cases, medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can jumpstart weight loss by promoting insulin secretion and enhancing feelings of fullness. These medications work best in combination with a healthy lifestyle, rather than as a replacement for it.

A medically-backed program with personalized support from doctors, dietitians, and health coaches can make a huge difference.. A health coach can help you design and maintain a healthy lifestyle plan that will work for you. A physician can prescribe GLP-1 RAs if this is desired and appropriate, and will also monitor you throughout your weight loss journey to ensure that you’re staying healthy. 

We’ve designed NOVI Optimum Plus based on the latest science and to approach weight loss and hormonal health holistically.