Why your hormones might be to blame for weight gain
You might think you know the basics of weight gain and weight loss. Simply put, weight gain is caused by your body storing energy from food without the ability to release the excess energy through physical activity.
Well, you’re right… but that’s not the whole story.
There is so much more to the mysteries of weight gain and weight loss than just too much food and not enough exercise. Fitness and nutrition expert Amelia Phillips provided insight on Today Extra.
She shared the most important part of understanding weight gain – sleep. This doesn’t mean the longer you sleep the less time you have to eat, but rather focuses on the impact sleep has on controlling and balancing hormones.
"There's a hormone called ghrelin which is our hungry hormone," explained Phillips. "When people are sleep-deprived, their ghrelin levels shoot through the roof."
Ghrelin isn’t the only hormone affected by sleep – it’s partner in crime, leptin, is also affected and is responsible for leaving us feeling satisfied and full after eating.
"People who are sleep-deprived never feel full," Phillips said. "Their leptin becomes resistant."
A 2016 study indicated that people who suffered just one night of poor sleep were subconsciously compelled to eat an extra 385 calories the following day.
Vitamin D is believed to also play a part in weight gain. Studies have discovered the correlation between low vitamin D levels and high levels of body fat.
One-third of Australian adults are thought to be vitamin D deficient and although the vitamin can be supplied through consuming foods, the best way to boost vitamin D levels is exposing skin to sunlight.
"You want to make sure that you're getting that sun but it's a delicate balance between sun smart," said Phillips, advising just a few minutes out in the sun a day.
Lastly, Phillips touched on thyroid – "a magic hormone that regulates your metabolism" – and highlighted the importance of a mineral called iodine, which is not common in Australian diets.
"Seaweed and seafood are the two best sources of iodine but in Australia [supermarket] bread and salt are [fortified with iodine]," said Phillips, adding that Himalayan rock salt and artisan breads are not iodised.
If you think your weight gain has been influenced by hormones or vitamins, visit your local doctor.