Losing weight can be perplexing and frustrating. Whilesome people struggle with weight gain throughouttheir lives, many individuals find they have trouble keepingthe pounds off as the years go by. Even though they eat lessthan before, they still gain weight.
There are healthy, smart ways to lose weight, and keep itoff, that begin with understanding why people gain weight.
Weight gain is the result of an imbalance between caloriesconsumed and calories used. Behavior, environmentand genetics can contribute to the imbalance. Caloric balanceis maintained within the body by chemical messengersknown as neurotransmitters and hormonesthat help the body store and break down fatto meet the body’s daily energy needs. Whenthis system of chemical messengers fails tofunction, the appetite says to eat more eventhough the individual should feel full.
In addition, environmental and biologicalfactors including stress, poor diet, neurotoxinsand genetics can cause imbalances in thelevels of neurotransmitter chemicals in thebrain. These imbalances can trigger or exacerbateweight control issues.
Neurotransmitters are chemicals thatrelay signals between nerve cells called neurons.They are present throughout the bodyto maintain proper brain and body functions. An exampleis serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, hungerand eating behavior. When serotonin levels are low, onemay experience excessive hunger, frequent carbohydratecravings, and feel irritable, moody or depressed.
For some people, being overweight is related to low serotoninlevels, but balancing neurotransmitters is just onepiece of the weight–gain puzzle. Stress also causes weight issuesbecause it aggravates the pancreas and adrenal glands,and interferes with the regulation of blood sugar.
Stress is another key cause of weight gain. The stressresponse, best known as “fight or flight,” involves the secretionof stress hormones from the adrenal glands. Thesehormones, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucocorticoidsand mineral corticoids, prepare the body forphysical danger in a number of ways: nervous system activity increases, heart rate and blood pressure rise, surfaceblood vessels constrict allowing for increased blood flow tothe vital organs, and the liver releases stored glycogen toincrease blood sugar.
Cortisol is the primary adrenal hormone responsiblefor changes in blood sugar metabolism and insulin activity.Cortisol decreases insulin sensitivity by receptor cells andglucose uptake and increases blood sugar. The rise in bloodsugar serves as a reservoir for the central nervous system,which requires a continuous supply of glucose to function.
When stress is high, cortisol levels rise, insulin resistanceclimbs, hyperinsulinemia intensifies,and as a result, the body gains weight. Simplyput, stress causes weight gain.
Many serious chronic conditions are associatedwith neurotransmitter and cortisolderegulation. One of the more serious isType 2 diabetes and its complicating factors.The inability to lower blood sugar in peoplewith Type 2 diabetes can cause impaired insulinsecretion, hyperinsulinemia, insulinresistance, impaired glucose tolerance andincreased glucose production by the liver.Consequently, the pancreas can no longerfunction properly because the body’s communicationnetwork breaks down.
By looking at the factors that cause stress, individualscan focus on balancing these systems in the body and thuscreate an environment for weight loss and increased wellbeing.
Because every individual is biologically unique, one sizedoes not fit all. It is important to look beyond the obviousweight–loss and stress–reduction methods, including exercise,education and diet, which also are important. Weightloss is a complex issue with many variables that fluctuatewith each body. In the end, neurotransmitter function,cortisol levels, portion–controlled low–carbohydrate dietsand individually tailored exercise programs can produceremarkable changes in a person’s health.
