The American Endocrine Society stresses the importance of hormones in the normal function and balance of your body. One way to achieve balance is to maintain your ideal weight. The right levels of hormones can make this possible. Understanding how your hormones can affect your weight could help you become more mindful of them. Here are the details. 

Hormones, Hunger, and Satiety

Your body can maintain its energy levels through hormones. There are hormones that make you feel hungry, while others tell you that you are already full. An imbalance in these hormones can result in weight gain or weight loss. Hunger triggers the production of hormones that stimulate your nervous and endocrine systems. Here are the hormones that excite your appetite:

• Motilin is a hormone in your small intestine. Fasting triggers motilin production. This stimulates intestinal contractions that tell your brain that you need to eat. 
• Ghrelin is the hunger hormone. It stimulates the hypothalamus, the part of your brain that makes you hungry. This hormone also participates in other processes, such as glucose metabolism.
• NPY or neuropeptide Y is a short chain of amino acids. The brain releases this peptide to trigger eating. Leptin and ghrelin regulate the release of this hormone. 
• AgRP or agouti-related protein is a peptide from your brain. Ghrelin stimulates the production of this protein. AgRP also increases your food intake.

Fullness or satiety hormones allow you to stop eating. These hormones prevent you from overloading with nutrients. They make you feel full. Here are the main satiety hormones in your body:

• CCK or cholecystokinin is from the cells of your small intestine. Studies show that it responds to protein, fat, and other luminal nutrients. It lowers your food intake by telling your brain that you are full. It also stimulates pancreatic secretions and gallbladder contraction that digestion needs.
• Leptin is a hormone from fat cells. Research reveals that other parts of the body also secrete this hormone. Leptin was first known as the fullness hormone because it blocks AgRP and NPY. It also triggers the fullness peptides.
• Peptide YY or pancreatic peptide YY is also from the small intestine. Clinical data show that the release of this peptide happens after eating. Peptide YY binds to the brain and decreases your appetite. It also slows down the travel of food through your digestive tract. 
• GLP-1 or glucagon-like peptide-1 is from your intestinal cells. Studies show that GLP-1 comes out when you eat. This hormone slows down the emptying of your stomach. GLP-1 interacts with your brain to decrease your food intake. 
• Insulin comes from the pancreas. Research reveals that it balances your energy and regulates your blood sugar levels. Insulin production increases after a meal. It tells your brain to slow your intake of food.
• Obestatin suppresses your appetite. Studies show that this hormone counters ghrelin’s effects. 

BHRT for Weight Loss

Clinical data show that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy or BHRT might help with weight loss. Since it restores the hormones that you lost, it may help regulate your metabolism. BHRT may bring balance to your hormone levels. Bioidentical hormones may be plant-based, but they are like the hormones in your body. Supporters of this therapy have been said to lose or maintain their weight.

The balance of hunger and satiety hormones in your body can help you lose weight and prevent weight gain. At Full Life, we help our patients achieve their health and wellness goals through our natural and effective treatments. Feel free to visit our facility in Nashville, Tennessee, for an in-person consultation. Please call 615-805-5600 to set an appointment or learn more about our hormonal therapy packages.