Sometimes diet and exercise are not enough to successfully lose weight. Calories matter, of course, but out-of-balance hormones are particularly capable of undercutting all a dieter’s hard work. A medical weight loss professional can help you identify what is standing between you and your weight-loss goals and also tailor a plan for dropping extra pounds and keeping them off. 

How Do Hormones Impede Weight Loss?

The classic recommendation for losing weight is to burn more calories than you consume, but taking this tack to achieve your goal weight is not always sufficient. Hormone imbalances can alter normal body functions, intensify food cravings, and lead to increased fat storage. An approach to weight loss that focuses on identifying the underlying causes of stubborn weight retention offers hope.

Too much cortisol—a steroid hormone that controls numerous body processes, including weight gain and responses to stress—also results in high blood pressure, mood disorders, and osteoporosis. A medically supervised weight-loss program can help you combat the negative effects of too much cortisol and ease the symptoms of all these conditions.

Sometimes, the signals that hormones send to the brain and body can malfunction and make it easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose it. Leptin, for example, is a hormone produced by fat cells. It helps to control appetite by telling the brain that you are full. In overweight and obese individuals, leptin levels are higher than normal and require medical intervention to bring them into balance.  

Similarly, levels of insulin—which is responsible for absorbing sugar from the bloodstream and storing it in fat cells for later energy use—can be thrown off by autoimmune disease and Type 1 diabetes. These complications, not your calorie intake, may be responsible for your weight gain.

How Will a Medical Weight Loss Program Help?

In a medical weight loss program, a trained physician takes a detailed medical history and performs laboratory tests to discover underlying issues that may be stalling weight loss. They will develop a nutritional plan so that you eat healthier foods, feel better, and have more energy. Prescription medication and MIC B12 shots may be given to eliminate fat buildup in the liver, aid in metabolism, and reduce blood cholesterol.

If you’ve tried dieting to lose weight and have spent countless days and hours exercising without results, the team at RevitaLife in Saint Louis, MO, has a better solution. They specialize in medical weight loss technologies and therapies, such as bioidentical hormone balancing and replacement and functional medicine, that help you lose pounds. Schedule an appointment today by calling (314) 475-3126, or visit their website to learn more about their services.