One of the very important hormones that affects weight control is insulin. Insulin is a blood sugar regulator. High carbohydrate intake leads to higher blood sugar levels. This in turn leads to an increase of insulin output by the body. Insulin production is the body’s natural response to the condition of  high sugar levels in the blood. If that sugar is not getting converted into energy fast enough to produce safe levels in the blood, insulin will will turn to an alternate action and convert that blood sugar into fat that will be stored by the body.

The term lipogenic refers to that quality of being fat producing. In addition to insulin being lipogenic, it also inherently exhibits another quality that has negative results in terms of weight loss programs. Insulin is also antilipolytic. This simply means that it naturally works to fight against the breakdown of fat. As you now see, a diet that stimulates high insulin output will certainly be encouraging natural body activities that are counter productive to your goal of losing weight.

When the body is stressed due to a variety of reasons, insulin production also increases in order to stimulate the production of cortisol, our stress hormone. The body then responds to high cortisol by lowering the levels of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This hormone is very important in the production of muscle. Producing more muscle than fat is our ultimate goal.

Chronic stress stimulates fat cells into storing fat. Fat cells located in the abdominal wall, characteristically possess more cortisol receptors on their cell membranes. So in turn, stress will encourage these cells to retain more fat.

Leptin is produced by adipose tissue and leptin binds to nucleus cells of the hypothalamus, a region of the brain known as the “satiety center.” Binding of leptin to this nucleus tells the brain that the body has had enough to eat thus giving you the feeling that you are full or that you have had enough to eat. In a small number of humans, mutations of the leptin gene are present that stimulate a constant demand for food. This normally leads to severe obesity. Unfortunately this condition often compounds itself. As the body produces greater and greater quantities of leptin to fulfill the requirements of the process it can also cause higher tolerances and reduced efficiency. Although a method to control this hormone has not been developed, there have been some short term benefits experienced by the administration of a product called “recombinant human leptin” by way of injection.

The hormone serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain made from the amino acids found in proteins. Like leptin, it also sends messages that body is satisfied and that we have eaten sufficient to meet our body’s needs. Low serotonin levels cause depression, obesity, lethargy, and a greater desire for refined carbohydrates. Low levels of serotonin leads to overeating because the brain believes the body is starving. A diet that restricts protein-rich calories can be one reason for low serotonin levels. Some people that produce very high levels of cortisol also tend to experience lower serotonin levels.

Another glandular condition known as hypothyroidism may affect as high as 30 percent of the population. A low thyroid condition reduces our fat burning rate and causes fatigue, inhibiting energy levels. Your thyroid is small gland at the base of your neck that controls energy flow. A shortage of thyroid hormones makes you feel lethargic and promotes low activity levels. Slowed digestion causes constipation, sluggish metabolism leads to weight gain and elevated cholesterol levels. The brain also needs thyroid hormones to stimulate the production of hormones like serotonin that we talked about earlier. Hypothyroidism can lead to depression and lethargy and weight gain.

Although not often mentioned in the discussion of weight loss and hormones, testosterone and estrogens are key players as well. These are typically male, female hormones. The production of these hormones tends to reduce as age increases. The male hormone, testosterone stimulates high energy and associated fat burning benefits. Quite the opposite though, the female hormone estrogens actually encourage the storage of fat. A decrease in estrogens levels therefore would seem beneficial in your weight loss program. Unfortunately a number of conditions call for the addition of estrogens to ease women through the menopause process. Although beneficial in that affect, it will be counter-productive to weight loss or weight control efforts.

As becomes quite obvious, a number of hormones play a part in weight control. Some of these hormones interact with each other. Some hormones can be manipulated with drugs or by good meal planning. Others hormones such as leptin are can be manipulated to some degree. As always, the ultimate answer is a careful selection of food groups and meal planning and healthy exercise.