Hormone Replacement Therapy for Weight Loss
Hormone replacement therapy for weight loss may not be the first thing that comes to your mind. Most of the time when we discuss hormone replacement therapy it is in the treatment of menopause in women and andropause (“male menopause”) in men. While hormone replacement therapy using bioidentical hormones is medically proven to be a safe and effective treatment for the troublesome symptoms of aging such as hot flashes, mood swings, loss of libido and low energy, many people are still not aware that hormone replacement therapy can play an important role in weight loss as well.
Hormones control the majority of our physiological processes, including telling the body when to use and when to store fat. They regulate cholesterol, metabolism, and insulin production. When hormones are out of balance the body will try to self-correct and force balance; this can result in reduced metabolic rate, fat storage in areas that were not a problem before, and even affect how the body handles blood sugar levels. The so-called middle aged tire is a direct result of reduced hormones production as we age.
When we talk about hormone replacement therapy for weight loss, testosterone is a key for both men and women.
In women estrogen and progesterone play vital roles in this process, but in both women and men, testosterone directly impacts metabolism, muscle gain, and fat loss. As men and women age, the production of all of these hormones declines. Many individuals experience this decline through feelings of fatigue or low energy, mild depression, loss of libido, 
and even a loss of confidence. Physical symptoms in women include vaginal dryness, difficulty achieving orgasm, hot flashes, and weight gain in the abdominal area. Men may experience sexual dysfunction as well as the same issue with midsection weight gain. Men and women who have been physically active and lived healthy lifestyles suddenly find themselves having difficulty gaining muscle (or keeping lean muscle), or gaining weight despite increased exercise and decreased caloric intake. This is both common and treatable with hormone replacement therapy.
Balancing hormones is more than just a study in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. As a trained and certified Age Management Specialist with world-renowned Cenegenics, Dr. Harry Collins also looks at a variety of other hormones that affect metabolism and overall healthy functioning of the body, including the thyroid, human growth factor, cholesterol, insulin, pregnenolone, DHEA and Vitamin D. By bringing those hormones to their optimal level, the body can function as efficiently as it did in a patient’s 20s and 30s. This often results in weight loss, increased cardiovascular health, strengthened immune system, increased lean muscle mass, and improved sexual response. Dr. Collins also brings to his patients over 30 years in private medical practice as a licensed OB/GYN before retiring to dedicate his life to helping people live longer lives with vitality and health through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. For a free consultation to see if hormone replacement therapy for weight loss could work for you, please contact us at Savannah Age Management Medicine or call us at (912) 925-6911.
