Why You Gain Weight Even Without Eating Much: An Endocrinologist Explains
Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- An endocrinologist explains that weight gain is not always due to overeating or lack of exercise, but can stem from hormonal imbalances.
- Hormonal fluctuations can slow metabolism, increase appetite, and lead to weight gain, creating a vicious cycle.
- Women are more prone to thyroid issues, such as hypothyroidism, which significantly slows metabolism, due to hormonal influences like estrogen.
Weight management can be more complex than simply dieting and exercising, according to endocrinologist Dr. Iulia Preda. Hormonal imbalances can significantly hinder weight loss efforts by slowing metabolism and increasing appetite, often leading to further weight gain and perpetuating a cycle of hormonal disruption.
The thyroid gland is, practically, the metabolic dispatcher of our body. When the thyroid becomes underactive (hypothyroidism), the basal metabolic rate decreases significantly. Imagine the body's engine switching from 'sport' mode to 'economy' mode. Burn rates slow down, and the energy that should be consumed to maintain body temperature or for cellular activity is stored.
Dr. Preda, a specialist at Hyperclinica MedLife Constanศa, highlights that thyroid dysfunction is a common culprit, particularly in women. The thyroid gland regulates essential bodily processes, including metabolism, controlling how efficiently cells convert nutrients and oxygen into energy. When the thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism), the body's metabolic rate drops, causing it to conserve energy rather than burn it for bodily functions. "Imagine the body's engine switching from 'sport' mode to 'economy' mode," Dr. Preda explained.
Statistically, women are up to eight times more prone to developing thyroid conditions than men.
Women are statistically up to eight times more likely than men to develop thyroid conditions. This increased susceptibility is linked to estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, which directly influences thyroid function. Major hormonal shifts during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can trigger autoimmune responses. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the most common cause of hypothyroidism, is an autoimmune condition where the body mistakenly attacks its own thyroid gland. "Women have a much greater genetic predisposition for these types of 'errors' by the immune system," Dr. Preda noted, emphasizing the close relationship between the immune system and female sex hormones.
Estrogen, the female sex hormone, directly influences thyroid function, and major hormonal fluctuations (puberty, pregnancy, menopause) can trigger autoimmune responses.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Adevฤrul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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