Hormones maintaining homeostasis (a self-regulating process that balances bodily functions) helps manage weight, regulates metabolism, and maintains one’s reproductive health (1).

Most women go through hormonal imbalances due to age, genetics, pregnancy, and menopause, leading to weight gain (2). But which hormones are the key players?

Read on to learn more about the hormones linked to weight gain and how they control hunger, satiety, and metabolism.

In This Article

Does Hormonal Imbalance Make You Gain Weight?

Hormones, along with your lifestyle, influence your appetite, satiety, metabolism, and weight (3).

Stress, age, genes, and poor lifestyle choices can disrupt your hormonal balance and lead to a sluggish metabolism, indigestion, and uncontrollable hunger. This, ultimately, leads to weight gain.

So, let’s find out which hormones cause weight gain.

Related: 10 Best Metabolism Boosting Foods You Must Add To Your Diet

Which Hormone Imbalances Trigger Weight Gain?

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1. Thyroid

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland present at the base of the neck. It is responsible for releasing three hormones – triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin (4).

T3 and T4 are mainly responsible for regulating the body temperature and metabolism. They also play a major role in regulating fat and glucose metabolism, food intake, and fat oxidation (the process of breaking down fat molecules) (5), (6).

Imbalances in the thyroid hormones cause a medical condition called hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid gland). Hypothyroidism is associated with decreased metabolic rate and body temperature and a higher BMI (6).

Mild thyroid dysfunction can lead to weight gain and is a possible risk factor of obesity (6).

Hypothyroidism leads to water accumulation, and not fat, that makes you look plump. Severe hypothyroidism can lead to edema (water accumulation in the face) (7). You can gain 5-10 pounds or more if your weight gain is only due to thyroid hormone imbalance.

A healthy lifestyle can lead to weight loss and improve your body composition and thyroid function (8).

Related: Thyroid Diet: Foods To Eat For Hypothyroidism & Hyperthyroidism

2. Leptin

Leptin is mainly secreted by fat cells (adipocytes). It regulates energy expenditure, appetite, and food intake (9), (10).

Your lifestyle and diet play a key role in regulating the leptin levels and your body weight. A study conducted on rats found that eating processed and fast foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and too much fructose can lead to leptin resistance and, consequently, obesity (11).

As you keep consuming more fructose-containing foods, more fat gets accumulated and more leptin is secreted. This, in turn, desensitizes your body to leptin and your brain stops receiving the signal to stop eating. This, ultimately, leads to weight gain (12).

3. Insulin

Insulin, a peptide hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas, regulate blood glucose levels.

Nutritional imbalance, physical inactivity, and overconsumption of processed foods, alcohol, and artificially sweetened drinks, and snacking on unhealthy foods can lead to obesity and insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance increases the secretion of endogenous insulin (the insulin secreted by the pancreas), which leads to weight gain by altering the metabolism of glucose (13).

Lifestyle management, monitoring your hormonal levels, and exercise are essential to prevent insulin-resistant obesity.

4. Ghrelin

Ghrelin is an orexigenic (hunger-stimulant) hormone that stimulates your appetite and food intake and increases fat deposition.

It is secreted by the stomach mainly in response to food. Your stomach secretes ghrelin when it is empty and decreases its production shortly after a meal (14).

After a meal, the ghrelin suppression rate is lower in obese individuals compared to individuals with a normal BMI. This results in overeating, which leads to further weight gain (15).

5. Estrogen

Both high and low levels of estrogenⁱ  XSex hormones in women that help develop and maintain secondary sexual characteristics and the reproductive system. can lead to weight gain among women.

High levels of estrogen promote fat deposition, whereas low levels (especially during menopause) result in visceral fatⁱ  XThe accumulation of fat around the stomach, liver, and intestines, as well as other abdominal organs that can lead to a heart attack. accumulation, especially in the lower region (16).

Studies have shown that increased secretion of estrone, estradiol, and free estradiol are all associated with increased BMI in postmenopausal women (17).

The level of estrogen is negatively associated with total physical activity. The more physically active you are during menopause, the more you can control your weight gain (18).

Related: Top 20 Estrogen-Rich Foods You Should Include In Your Diet

6. Cortisol

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It is mainly secreted when you are stressed, depressed, anxious, nervous, angry, physically injured, etc.

Consumption of foods with a high glycemic indexⁱ  XFoods are given a glycemic index score depending on how quickly and profoundly they can cause a spike in blood glucose levels. , chronic stress, and lack of sleep lead to an increase in cortisol production. A high cortisol level causes fat accumulation in the abdominal region. This vicious cycle is one of the major causes of weight gain (19), (20).

Stylecraze Says Listen to your favorite music regularly. According to a study, surgical patients who listened to instrumental music had lower cortisol levels than the control group (34).

7. Testosterone

Testosterone is a male sex hormone, but it is also secreted to a small extent by the ovaries in women.

Testosterone helps burn fat, strengthens bones and muscles, and improves libidoⁱ  XAn individual’s desire to engage in sexual activities. Conditions such as menopause, stress and pregnancy can affect it. (21). Insulin resistance due to increased adipose tissue leads to low circulation of the sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (a protein that binds sex hormones). This causes a reduction in the testosterone level and an increase in fat accumulation (22).

Lifestyle changes, testosterone therapy, and regular exercise can help maintain this hormone and lead to weight loss.

8. Progesterone

This female reproductive hormone helps maintain bodily functions and manage reproductive health.

Progesterone hormone levels drop during menopause, acute stress, and use of contraceptive pills.

A study conducted on hamsters found that a normal progesterone level helps lower fat mass (23).

Another study conducted on humans concluded that estrogen-progesterone therapy helps reduce abdominal fat accumulation, improves insulin sensitivity, and slows the progression of type-2 diabetes (24).

Regular exercise, stress management, and a healthy lifestyle can help regulate your progesterone levels and weight gain.

9. Melatonin

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Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland. It regulates the circadian rhythm, i.e., the sleeping and rising pattern. Melatonin levels in the body tend to rise from evening till late at night and ebb in the early morning (25).

Poor sleep quality lowers the melatonin level, which leads to lower physical activity, induces stress, and stimulates the production of cortisol (a stress hormone). This increases glucose metabolism and decreases the adiponectin level (a protein hormone that promotes fat breakdown), which causes weight gain (26), (27).

Low melatonin levels and poor sleep quality increase calorie intake at night, which is again related to weight gain and increased BMI (28).

10. Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that regulate insulin sensitivity and fatty acid synthesis. An imbalance in the glucocorticoid levels causes weight gain and insulin resistance.

A study conducted on rats found that the central administration of glucocorticoids increases food intake and body weight gain (29).

Now that you know which hormones trigger weight gain, let’s check out the symptoms that you need to look out for.

Symptoms Of Hormonal Weight Gain

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The most common symptom of hormonal imbalance is weight gain, which may lead to:

• Lethargy
• Tiredness
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Headache
• Depression
• Indigestion
• Change in appetite
• Dry skin
• Puffy face
• Anxiety
• Sexual dysfunction

So, consult a doctor if you face any of the above symptoms and go for a routine hormonal check-up for proper management.

Let’s answer another common question that people have about hormonal weight gain.

Does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Cause Weight Gain?

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Not all hormonal therapy leads to weight gain. Hormones that are steroidal in nature may cause central fat accumulation, but the evidence to support this is variable and not conclusive.

A study published in Fertility and Sterility found that postmenopausal women who were on estrogen and progestin treatment experienced an increase in body weight and fat mass to a small extent (30).

A few studies also state that continuous hormonal therapy does not cause any significant changes in weight (31), (32).

So, check with a doctor if you are experiencing weight gain. Getting a full profile hormonal test done periodically can help you control your weight.

Here’s what you can do to lose the weight caused by hormonal imbalance.

How To Lose Hormonal Weight Gain

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The best way to control your hormonal imbalance is through regular check-ups, lifestyle management, and medication for the same. Here’s what you can do to control your weight at this time.

• Get blood tests done if you are experiencing unwanted weight gain.
• Avoid eating processed food, alcohol, late-night snacks, aerated and artificially sweetened drinks, etc.
• Sleep properly and peacefully. Studies have shown that short sleep duration increases ghrelin and lowers leptin in the body, which results in weight gain (33).
• Keep yourself hydrated to stay healthy.
• Fill your plate with lots of fresh vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.
• Exercise regularly and burn more calories.
• Dedicate an hour every day to practice deep breathing, yoga, and meditation to reduce stress.

Stylecraze Says Additionally, give up smoking and reduce your caffeine consumption to keep your weight in check.

Hormonal imbalances can obstruct your weight loss journey. Hormones and weight gain share a direct connection as hormones are essential for the proper functioning of the body. Imbalanced hormone levels may lead to health complications, including unwanted weight gain. You may regulate your hormonal levels naturally by following a healthy, balanced diet and a disciplined exercise regimen. Keep an eye on your hormonal profile every three months to check if additional intervention is needed. Consult your health care provider if you are experiencing trouble losing weight despite adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Weight gain is commonly observed post-pregnancy, especially after undergoing a C-section. To put things in perspective, here is a staggering stat for you. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) suggests that weight gain post-pregnancy has sharply risen by 70% over the last few years (1).

Even a small procedure like a tonsillectomy can make you put on weight. In this article, we have listed the six major reasons for postoperative weight gain and some dietary measures you can follow to shed those extra pounds you gained. Take a look!

In This Article

What Causes Weight Gain After Surgery?

Do not panic if your weight increases after surgery. You just need to figure out the exact reason and work on it.

1. Water Retention

Water retention is medically known as postoperative edema. It is one of the major causes of weight gain after surgery (2).

Edema is the fluid accumulation between the tissues caused by the redistribution of plasma proteins. Post-surgery tissue injury results in massive shifts of fluids in between body compartments, leading to the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space, i.e., the space between the organs in your body (3).

This fluid retention can be localized in the extremities, or it can be generalized, giving you an overall plumper appearance.

2. Stress

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Both physical and psychological stress can trigger hormonal imbalance, which can cause weight gain. Stress for prolonged periods burdens the adrenal glands and causes them to secrete more of the cortisol hormone (4).

A study conducted on people who underwent cardiac surgery found that surgery-related stress increases both cortisol and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion (5). Increased ADH levels may disturb the kidney functioning and cause water retention.

Related: How Does Stress Cause Weight Loss? 10 Tips To Control It

3. Trauma

Surgical trauma often leads to metabolic, immunological, and endocrine changes (6).

Trauma is a bodily response to distressing or disturbing events. Post-surgery trauma often disturbs the body’s equilibrium and creates a hormonal imbalance. This leads to the malfunctioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which further stresses the body (7).

A long-term observational study found that women with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) tend to gain more weight and are at a higher risk of becoming overweight or obese (8).

4. Medication

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Doctors often prescribe medication for post-surgery recovery. Most of these drugs are supplements to help regain your strength and promote faster healing. They may also prescribe certain medicines that affect your metabolic system and lead to weight gain (9).

5. Rest

Post-surgery recovery demands ample rest. Low activity and complete rest can slow down the body’s basal metabolic rate (BMR), which may result in weight gain.

Energy expenditure is directly related to your BMR and activity level. Low physical activity after a surgery can lower the BMR and calorie expenditure, which leads to weight gain (10). Doctors always suggest starting with slow physical activity after the recovery phase to revamp your body’s metabolic system.

6. Comfort Food

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Who doesn’t want to indulge in comfort food? Besides, your loved ones may want to pamper you with all your favorite foods after your surgery. However, these comfort foods may make you gain weight.

Post-surgery blues often increase overindulgence in comfort foods, particularly high-sugar and high-fat foods. This, coupled with your already slow metabolism, can make you feel bloated.

Now that you have zeroed in on the cause of your post-surgery weight gain, let’s check out some precautions that you can take to minimize it.

Related: Why Is Healthy Food Important In Our Daily Life?

Precautions To Take To Minimize Post-Surgery Weight Gain

We know that we tend to gain weight after surgery (especially in the recovery stage). While gaining 5 to 6 pounds is normal, anything beyond that could lead to long-term issues. The following precautions can prevent this from happening:

• Start to move around a bit. You don’t need to rush to the gym immediately after your surgery. Just keep yourself active by moving around as it helps revamp your metabolic system.
• Practice some stretching exercises for better blood circulation. You can rotate your ankles or feet in clockwise and anticlockwise directions to prevent edema in the lower extremities.
• You can pamper yourself with your favorite food once a week, but do not overindulge in it.
• Include herbs like horsetail, parsley, cumin, and hibiscus in your food. They are natural diuretics that can help reduce water retention (11), (12), (13).

In addition to these precautions, you can also make certain dietary changes that can help prevent weight gain due to surgery.

Stylecraze SaysYou can gradually start aerobic exercises, home exercises, or resistance exercises to lose weight after surgery (after consulting a physician) (17).

Dietary Changes To Lose Weight After Surgery

1. Focus On Lean Protein

Protein plays a key role in the recovery process. It helps repair and heal tissue damage, boosts immunity, and maintains a good metabolic rate (14).

Always focus on including good-quality protein in each meal. To avoid gaining weight, consume lean protein with low-fat content.

Include skinless white meat, lean cuts of beef or pork, eggs, fish, plant proteins like pulses, beans, legumes, and low-fat dairy products in your diet.

Try healthy cooking methods like steaming and add protein to your salads.

2. Eat More Vegetables And Fruits

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Vegetables and fruits are loaded with water and fiber that can help prevent excessive weight gain. Women often complain of developing belly fat after undergoing C-section. This was proven by a study conducted on mice (15). Hence, consuming more soluble fiber can help in this regard.

Moreover, vegetables and fruits are natural diuretics that can help drain out excess water from the body. Include cucumber, watermelon, lemon, asparagus, dandelion leaves, and nettle leaves in your diet. Spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, pepper, mushrooms, aubergines, and other green leafy vegetables are also great choices.

However, we suggest you speak to your doctor/nutritionist before making these changes to your diet. Make sure to inform them about any medication you are taking.

Related: Vegetarian Diet Plan For Weight Loss – Foods List, Health Benefits, PrecautionsStylecraze SaysYou can also make smoothies or juices out of the vegetables and fruits. Their soluble fiber can help you lose the post-surgery weight while keeping you hydrated.

3. Keep Yourself Hydrated

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A study conducted on girls who were overweight found that drinking plenty of water improves your metabolic rate and digestion (16).

Adequate water intake prevents excess fluid retention by sending a signal to the kidneys to stop conserving water. But if you have any serious kidney issues, please consult your doctor before increasing your water intake.

Infographic: Reasons Behind Post-Surgery Weight Gain

Post-surgery aftercare is just as important as the actual procedure itself. You must adhere to a prescribed medicine schedule and take adequate rest. That said, you also may notice unexpected weight fluctuations during this phase. What could the causes be? Check out the infographic below to learn more about the same.

Do not worry about weight gain after surgery. It happens as a result of medications prescribed for faster recovery, water retention, stress, or overindulgence in food post-surgery to keep the blues at bay. Following a few preventative measures can keep you from putting on those extra pounds. Remember, it is normal to gain a few pounds during post-surgery rehabilitation. All you need to do is follow a healthy and balanced diet, reduce your stress levels, and drink plenty of water. Consult your healthcare provider in case this unwanted weight persists even after following these tips.