Weight gain with age is an undeniable reality of the human condition. Hormones for weight loss are becoming increasingly popular as a possible solution.
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Causes of Weight Gain With Age
A combination of factors contributes to the steady weight gain seen with human aging. In general, body processes slow down with age due to the reduction in the cell parts that burn energy. Mitochondria are cell organelles that turn glucose from food into usable energy. Over time, the amount of mitochondria in each cell decreases, reducing the amount of energy that can be burned at any given time.
Metabolism, energy level and muscle mass are key components to weight management that slow down with age. If energy intake remains the same, weight gain is inevitable. In addition to these factors, an imbalance in the hormones that control these processes compounds the weight gain issue.
Hormones and the Metabolism
Hormones are the brain’s messengers for all chemical processes occurring in the human body. Many hormones work in concert to keep the body’s metabolic processes running smoothly:
- Testosterone: a hormone found in both males and females. In combination with diet and exercise, testosterone can help produce lean muscle mass.
- Estrone: a weaker form of the hormone estrogen. Estrone is produced in fat tissue and contributes to balancing the body’s metabolic processes.
- Progesterone: a hormone that works to decrease inflammation. If inflammation is decreased, the body is better able to signal the initiation of fat-burning processes.
- DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): a hormone that reduces the amount of abdominal fat.
- HGH (Human Growth Hormone): a hormone that promotes the accumulation of muscle mass, promotion of fat reduction, and decrease in recovery time after workouts.
- Insulin: a hormone that plays a role in burning energy and balancing blood sugar levels.
- Incretin: a hormone that stimulates the release of insulin specifically targeted at burning glucose
- Pregnenolone: a hormone that works to reduce cholesterol levels. Additionally, pregnenolone improves cognitive function, mood balance, and sleep patterns.
As people age, the endocrine tissues creating these hormones decrease in efficiency. Tissues may create a smaller amount of hormones or release the same amount of hormones at a slower rate, causing slower metabolic processes that lead to weight gain. Hormone therapy can combat this by keeping the body’s processes flowing naturally.
The Administration of Hormone Therapy
There are many different methods of receiving hormones for weight loss. A hormone therapy professional can discuss the following options and help determine the best course of action for therapy:
- Intramuscular Injection: This method allows hormones to be administered deeply into muscle tissue and absorbed quickly into the bloodstream.
- Subcutaneous Injection: A short needle is used to inject hormones in the layer between the skin and muscle.
- Hormone Pellet Insertion: Hormone pellets are inserted into the fat tissue.
- Topical Gels: Hormone gel is applied to clean, dry areas of the skin.
While there is still no Fountain of Youth to keep humans from aging, hormone therapy is a possible weight loss strategy for adults as they continue to age.
