Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Help Me Lose Weight?

Did you know that 74% of adults in the United States are overweight, including 43% who have obesity? This collective weight problem is fueled by a number of different factors, and a loss of reproductive hormones certainly makes the list.

Whether you’re a woman transitioning through menopause or a man with lower-than-normal testosterone levels, weight gain is often an unwanted side effect. And that leaves you wondering whether hormone replacement therapy is a good solution.

At No Mercy Sports Medicine, Dr. Moisés Irizarry-Román and our team understand the enormous impact that a loss of reproductive hormones can have on both men and women, which is why we offer hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for people in and around Miami, Florida. Here, we explore whether HRT can play a role in your weight-loss efforts.

The link between testosterone and excess pounds

Let’s first explore the link between the reproductive hormones in men and their weight, which is very much a two-way street.

Weight gain in men with low T is common for a couple of reasons. First, low T can lead to the loss of lean muscle, which is a great calorie burner. Second, low T can lead to a lack of energy, which means you might not be burning fat as you normally would.

Now let’s go in the other direction: Obesity can suppress testosterone production and cause low T.

The good news is that whatever is leading to your lower-than-normal testosterone levels, we can make up the difference with testosterone replacement therapy. Even better, this therapy can help you lose some of these excess pounds.

For example, research has found that long-term testosterone replacement can lead to a 20% body weight reduction. The factors behind this weight loss are complex and include an increase in lean muscle and metabolism, as well as less insulin resistance.

Hormone replacement therapy in women and weight loss

When women go through menopause, weight gain is very common as levels of estrogen and progesterone plummet. On average, women gain about 1.5 pounds each year during their 50s. Making matters worse, the loss of estrogen causes a fat redistribution and women end up with more belly fat.

While the loss of estrogen is certainly a catalyst for this weight gain, so, too, is aging and a natural slowing of metabolism. As a result, HRT can certainly help in many areas of post-menopause, such as sexual health and hot flashes, but it shouldn’t be viewed as a weight-loss tool.

That said, HRT, might help with reducing belly fat and it can slow the loss of muscle, which burns calories more efficiently, And HRT can certainly make you feel more like yourself again so you can tackle the extra pounds.

Ultimately, the best way to figure out whether HRT can play a role in helping you lose weight, whether you’re male or female, is to sit down with Dr. Irizarry-Román. During this visit, he can fully evaluate your metabolic health and your weight-loss goals to figure out which tools will benefit you most. 

To get that ball rolling, please contact No Mercy Sports Medicine at 305-614-6757 to schedule a consultation. You can also use our online message form to request an appointment.