Weight Loss Issues

In 2022 it was discovered that 43% of adults were overweight and the numbers of people suffering with obesity are rising ¹. Aside from the obvious unhealthy food and lifestyle choices, there could be a be a myriad of other reasons why people are struggling to lose weight in our modern day and age and these will be discussed below.

Hormonal issues

Thyroid issues trigger obesity, however, obesity in turn can also trigger hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Additionally, fasting or excessive calories, especially from high glycaemic foods (simple carbohydrates & sugar), can lead to nutritional imbalances, such as iron, selenium and iodine which are vital for the functioning of the thyroid gland ².

Obesity is considered an inflammatory condition, triggering oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to alterations in the adipokines released from the fat cells, which have endocrine effects such as triggering insulin resistance, leptin resistance and stubborn weight loss. Additionally, diets high in saturated fat have been found to trigger leptin resistance, disrupting satiety signals and increasing hunger ².

Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOS) can also lead to hormonal imbalances, such as excess androgens production, leading to insulin resistance and weight gain, which becomes a vicious cycle, because the weight gain can furthermore exacerbate PCOS, contributing fertility issues.  A mere reduction of 5-10% weight can significantly improve fertility and metabolic markers ².  

Declining oestrogen levels and increasing androgen hormones in women going through perimenopause and menopause also cause reductions in energy expenditure, metabolism and increased hunger hormones, trigger increased eating and weight gain, especially in the abdominal region, thereby increasing risk of insulin resistance and heart disease. Obesity in menopausal women is also associated with increased symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings and insomnia, the latter two leading to emotional eating or increased eating to combat fatigue. Western-style diets which are high in sugar, fat and salt exacerbate the problem ⁴. Several diets, such as low carb, keto (very low carb-high fat), Mediterranean and plant-based have been proposed to help alleviate hormonal imbalances and increase weight loss ².

Cortisol imbalance

Incorrect carbohydrates, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, excessive caffeine and overtraining have also been associated with cortisol increase, which further hinders weight loss. Cortisol normally increases blood glucose rapidly, breaks down fat and increases sodium and water retention, to increase our blood pressure to allow us to fight or flight. These are all vital for acute stress moments, but in long term stress, results in obesity, high cholesterol and insulin resistance. Additionally, it increases appetite and causes us to crave high fat and sugar rich energy foods, along with lowering testosterone and muscle mass, thereby decreasing energy expenditure ⁴. Fasting has also been found to act as a stressor to the body and can trigger elevated cortisol levels, therefore skipping meals and long term fasting may be contributing to stubborn weight loss ⁵. Certain micronutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium an omega 3 and herbal preparations such as green tea, green coffee, black tea, Rhodiola rosea and lemon balm can all help rebalance cortisol levels ⁴.

Gut dysbiosis

An imbalance in the “good” and “bad” gut bacteria has also been linked to increased fat storage in the fat cells ². This can be triggered by chronic antibiotic use, low fibre diets and diets high in fat. It was found that transferring gut bacteria from obese mice to lean mice could induce obesity. Obesity was also linked with lower populations of Bifidobacterium bifidum, which aid in reducing insulin and weight, Bifidobacterium longum, which help with fat and sugar metabolism and an increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Probiotics, prebiotics and increased fibre intake from fruits, vegetables and wholegrains can all help improve gut microbiota, restoring imbalances and aiding in weight loss ⁵.

Blood sugar imbalance

Diets high in simple carbohydrates and sugar cause elevated blood sugar, triggering increased insulin, which in turn triggers the ovarian theca cells to increase androgen production, leading to hormone abnormality, weight gain and acne ². Blood sugar imbalances are also caused by skipping meals, lack of protein, lack of fibre, coffee and alcohol on an empty stomach, gut dysbiosis, a high omega 6 to omega 3 ratio, and micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamins B, C, D, chromium, magnesium and zinc triggering sugar cravings, binge eating and weight loss issues ⁶.

Poor detoxification and environmental toxicology overload/ endocrine disruptors

The liver importantly detoxifies not only external toxins we encounter, but also internal hormone and metabolic wastes. If the detoxification of the liver is compromised due to excess alcohol, medications, smoking, genetic mutations, deficiencies such as vitamins B6, B9 (folate), B12, magnesium and diets high in sugar, correct metabolism cannot occur and leads to toxic oestrogen by-products that have been linked to hormonal cancers, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease ⁷. Environmental toxins such as such as bromide (used as fire retardants on furniture), fluoride (drinking water and toothpaste) and chloride (tap water and pools) and endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as pesticides, bisphenols (plastics), triclosan (personal hygiene, beauty and cleaning products), phthalates (perfumes found in scented candles, beauty and cleaning products) amongst others interfere with the endocrine system, disrupting thyroid function, glucose metabolism, oestrogen levels, potentially leading to thyroidal dysfunction from lifelong exposure through the environment, food and drink and therefore contributing to stubborn weight loss ⁸ ⁹.

It is clear that numerous factors could be contributing to difficulties in losing weight. If you have tried to cut calories and increased your exercise, but are still struggling to lose weight, more might be at play. Therefore, if you would like more assistance and guidance with finding the root cause of this struggle and a nutritional plan to help, book a free 15-minute discovery call or an in depth one-hour initial consult.