In the clinic, we have many clients who come to us frustrated with not being able to lose weight. They feel like they have done it all…. eat clean, count calories, train 7x days a week and still see no results. 

 Unfortunately, weight loss is much more than calories in vs calories out. Many underlying drivers can influence our body composition, and this is often not investigated properly! This includes; stress hormones, sex hormones, liver function, gut bacteria, thyroid function, insulin, the nervous system, and emotions.

As clinical nutritionists, our primary focus is to investigate the complexities of these issues and the underlying drivers that may be affecting your ability to shift weight.

Top 6 underlying reasons why you are not losing weight:

1. Insulin resistance

    

   Insulin is a pancreatic hormone that regulates the metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates, promoting the uptake of glucose into cells and stabilising blood sugar levels. Recirculating insulin can lead to insulin resistance, affecting the metabolism of glucose from foods into our body cells. Too much insulin generates inflammation and causes weight gain.

   Insulin resistance is a primary driver in PCOS due to insulin triggering excess androgen production by the ovaries, stimulating increased adipocytes.

2. Reproductive hormone imbalances

    

   Hormonal imbalances are becoming more common in women due to high stress and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Poor metabolism and detoxification of oestrogen in the gut and liver can lead to re-circulating oestrogen in the body, creating oestrogen dominance. Oestrogen dominance may be indicated by heavy periods, tender breasts, heightened emotions and fluid retention -making you feel a lot heavier than you are!

   Excess amounts of oestrogen can store in fat tissues making it challenging for the body to metabolise fats. Furthermore, oestrogen is dominant over progesterone (causing high oestrogen and low progesterone), which is an essential counterbalancing hormone that helps burn fat and get rid of excess fluid.

3. Digestive issues and gut dysbiosis

    

   Imbalances within the gut microbiome (dysbiosis) can lead to bacteria overgrowth or reduced bacteria diversity. This shift in microbiota can lead to a disruption in metabolic pathways and influence energy extraction from the diet, lipid metabolism, immune function, and endocrine functions (hormones).

   This can lead to decreased satiety, increase inflammation, increased triglyceride incorporation and decreased fatty acid oxidation, resulting in weight gain.

4. Stress

    

   When we are stressed, this means that our sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated, and the body is secreting adrenaline and cortisol. When the SNS is constantly activated your body will predominately choose glucose as its fuel source, as it doesn’t feel safe enough to use fat as fuel.

    

   Prolonged cortisol production can lead to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and may lead to alterations in blood glucose regulation and satiety signalling telling us we’re full. This can cause metabolic issues contributing to body fat accumulation.

5. Thyroid hormonal and thyroid autoimmune conditions

    

   The thyroid is a vital hormone gland that regulates cellular metabolism and many body functions. This includes regulating basal metabolic rate, stimulating the breakdown of proteins, fats and glucose and enhancing cholesterol excretion.

   The most common type of thyroid disorder is hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid). This occurs when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. One of the major symptoms of hypothyroidism is weight gain, as the metabolism slows down, therefore you will not burn off calories as quickly.

6. Emotional food behaviours

    

   Health and nutrition are much more than just what we put into our bodies. It’s so important to consider the emotional factors that drive our food behaviours.

   It’s easy to lose touch with our hunger signals (eat when we’re bored, sad, stressed, and happy) and turn to food to deal with our emotions. This can lead to an unhealthy attachment to food to give us a particular feeling, this may include making you feel more relaxed, in control or a sense of ease and content.

   It’s important to identify underlying emotional issues that are affecting your relationship with food. This may require tuning into your emotions and seeking psychological support if required.
   
   
   

   So you have identified the 6 key reasons why you might not be losing weight? What’s next?
   
   

   Pure Health has just bought out a new 12-week holistic weight loss program that specifically works on all 6 areas.

    

   Head to ‘Services’ to read more about our Holistic Weight loss program