Psychologists around the world say that a person's happiness does not depend on weight, height, or others. physical parameters. But we stubbornly continue to strive for beauty standards, and when this process somehow stalls, we panic. In most cases, weight gain is triggered by overeating and lack of physical activity. But sharp unmotivated fluctuations in weight, which, of course, upset any woman, indicate various problems in the body.
The reasons can be different: a change in eating behavior, the onset of a disease, taking medications, various deviations in the functioning of body systems. In such cases, the only way to avoid the problem is to eliminate the cause. Consider the causes of a sharp weight gain in women and ways to eliminate it.
Hormonal disorders
According to experts, the largest number of cases of sudden weight gain occurs as a result of hormonal failure, provoked by any disease. Such a picture can, for example, be observed with polycystic ovaries. Sudden jump level male hormone testosterone, provoked by the disease, is the cause of a sharp weight gain in women. Which doctor should I contact? This question is of interest to many, because self-medication is impossible. To get started, make an appointment with a gynecologist. With the elimination of polycystosis, weight can be returned to normal, but not immediately.
The reasons for a sharp weight gain in women at the age of 25 will be discussed below.
It is also necessary to remember about the early diagnosis of diseases of this kind. If you notice some symptoms (hair loss and brittleness, the appearance of vegetation in atypical places, acne, irregular menstruation, inability to get pregnant), you should consult a doctor. In this case, there is a chance to avoid the development of the disease and cure it at an early stage, before weight problems arise. With strict adherence to the treatment regimen prescribed by the doctor, in about a year the normal structure of the ovary is restored. Of course, this will not lead to weight loss, but it will stop its further increase. Getting rid of extra pounds, as in all other cases, is possible only with a diet and daily physical activity. Losing weight also has a positive effect on the restoration of hormonal levels during a sharp weight gain in women. The reasons are always related.
Hypothyroidism
A disease such as hypothyroidism can also cause weight gain. This disease occurs as a result of disturbances in the thyroid gland, and more precisely because of its low activity and insufficient synthesis of thyroid hormones, which are the main regulators of metabolic processes in the body. Deficiency of these hormones leads to a slowdown in metabolism, and this, in turn, provokes an increase in body weight.
The root cause in this case is usually a lack of iodine. It is necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. characteristic symptom disease is not only weight gain, but also other signs. They can be expressed in a constant feeling of cold, brittle hair and nails, excessive dryness of the skin. If you notice something like this, you need to consult an endocrinologist for advice. After appropriate treatment, thyroid hormones return to normal, and excess weight gradually begins to go away. However, one must take into account the fact that if body weight has increased by more than 10 kg, then only the thyroid gland is hardly to blame. The problem must be looked for somewhere else.
What else could be the cause of a sharp weight gain in women?
Excess fluid in the body
An excess of fluid in the body can initiate an increase in extra pounds. Water accumulates in the cells and between them, which provokes the appearance of edema, cellulite, and the accumulation of excess weight. You can determine the presence of edema by resorting to the simplest procedure: press on the skin with your finger and release. If a dimple remains after pressing, this means that edema is available. Every woman is familiar with this problem. Before the onset of menstruation, all the fair sex has swelling that disappears without treatment with the onset of menstruation.
However, if puffiness bothers you all the time, then this indicates quite serious pathologies. The cause may be cardiovascular disease or impaired kidney function. Untimely treatment of these pathologies can lead to disability and sometimes death. Accordingly, if you undergo a course of treatment and eliminate swelling, then the weight will quickly return to normal. The causes of dramatic weight gain in women in their 25s may differ from those in women in their 40s and 50s. People under 25 have a very good metabolism, but with age, against the background of hormonal changes in the body, all processes, including metabolic ones, slow down. Therefore, it can be more difficult for a woman aged 35-40 to lose weight.
neoplasm
Sometimes it occurs due to the appearance of neoplasms in the abdominal cavity. Such diseases do not happen so often, but you should not lose sight of this scenario. The development of the tumor in this case is provoked by the so-called dermoids, consisting of various kinds fabrics. They grow very quickly and actively multiply in the abdominal cavity. In some cases, neoplasms gave a weight gain of more than 30 kg. The slightest disproportionate increase in tissue in the abdomen should alert you and serve as a reason to see a doctor.
Action of antidepressants
Weight fluctuations can also occur as a result of exposure to certain medications, such as antidepressants. The most typical drug that has this effect is Paroxetine. Its use in most cases entails a sharp increase in weight. Another drug in this group is Prozac. It causes obesity only with prolonged use. The same can be said about Setralin. Experts say that taking antidepressants provokes obesity only in the case of long-term (more than 12 months) use.
Diabetic drugs
Drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, which usually develops as a result of severe weight gain, can also cause more weight gain. A kind of vicious circle is formed, from which it is not so easy to get out. Modern remedies for diabetes, according to the latest medical data, can prevent this cause of sudden weight gain in women. Which doctor should I contact? Let's figure it out.
If there is a hormonal failure in the body, then you need to contact an endocrinologist, but it will not be superfluous to visit a gynecologist and other highly specialized specialists. You will also need to consult a nutritionist.
The new generation of drugs includes the drug "Siofor", which has a double effect. It helps to reduce blood sugar levels and normalize the body's metabolic processes, which prevents the accumulation of extra pounds. But don't ignore classic ways helping to reset diet and exercise. In this regard, it should be recalled that nutritionists strongly object to the use of drugs that promote weight loss by preventing fat absorption. Such medicines are taken only in case of emergency and only on the recommendation of a doctor.
Steroids
Steroid hormones can also cause dramatic weight gain in women. How to treat in this case without them bronchial asthma, skin tuberculosis, inflammation of some internal organs? After all, the use of steroid hormones is often due to a vital necessity. Experts say that short-term use of steroids does not increase weight much, but even in the case of a strong weight gain, when the drug is discontinued, it quickly returns to normal. Long-term use of drugs in this group is not recommended, you should think about alternative means.
What to do
Whatever the reason for a sharp weight gain in women after 35 years, it should be actively combated, since its presence leads to the development of serious pathologies. Obese people in most cases have high cholesterol, which provokes the development of cardiovascular diseases. Obesity favorably affects the development of diabetes mellitus. In addition, the load on the liver increases, since it is she who is responsible for the process of processing and utilizing fat. The risk of developing various pathologies also arises for the kidneys, pancreas, and digestive organs. In particular, the fat located on the internal organs is dangerous, it is very difficult to eliminate it. This condition provokes the accumulation of toxins, toxins and the appearance of stagnant foci. Obese people have a significantly higher risk of developing certain types of malignant tumors, including colon cancer, endometriosis, and breast pathologies. An increase in the load on the skeleton and joints entails damage to the musculoskeletal system (arthritis, arthrosis).
Conclusion
In the article, we examined the main causes of a sharp weight gain in women. In order to avoid all these negative consequences, you need to monitor your weight, and with a steady change in body weight, you need to consult a doctor and strictly follow his recommendations.
“Won’t I get fat while taking birth control pills?” Similar questions are asked daily by thousands of girls and women planning to start hormonal contraception for the first time.
The most "terrible" and inevitable side effect of oral contraceptives is considered to be weight gain. After all, every woman among her acquaintances will surely have a vivid example of how, after taking OK, a slender young lady turned into a “terrible fat woman”. Let's take a look at this important issue together with Evgenia Konkova, a consultant on modern hormonal contraception.
Who and when began to weave a ball of horror stories about the inevitability of obesity when taking oral contraceptives, we no longer know, but we can assume. The very first birth control pills contained a very high dose of estrogen - 50 mcg (which is twice as much as in modern drugs). Therefore, there were side effects such as metabolic disorders, which were almost impossible to avoid. In women, the metabolism was disturbed, which led to the accumulation of fat (mainly in the abdominal type - a fat pocket around the abdomen) and, accordingly, to weight gain.
As time passed, the effect that contraceptive drugs had on the body of women continued to be studied. Synthetic estrogens, especially ethinyl estradiol (EE), have been shown to induce some metabolic changes that are dose dependent. In other words: the lower the dose of estrogen, the less estrogen-dependent side effects. With a decrease in the dose of ethinylestradiol in the preparation, the frequency of complications decreases sharply, and health indicators practically do not differ from the average indicators in the population.
Later, with the advent of new birth control pills with a lower dose of hormones, it was possible to minimize their effect on metabolism. Research recent years It has been proven that when using highly selective 3rd generation progestogens in combination with low and ultra-low (20 and 15 μg EE) doses of estrogen, no clinically significant changes in carbohydrate metabolism parameters were detected, and therefore modern drugs do not provoke weight gain, which is so undesirable for the fair sex humanity.
So what are the reasons why today's microdosed birth control pills, which contain absolutely no calories, can upset us when we weigh ourselves with unwanted kilograms?
1. Retention of excess fluid in the body
An analogue of the hormone progesterone, contained in any oral contraceptive, contributes to a slight retention of fluid in the body. It is with progesterone, for example, that the appearance of edema during pregnancy is associated. Weight gain while taking OK is no more than 1-4 kg - this is most likely excess fluid. There are modern drugs that have a slight diuretic effect and avoid the accumulation of excess fluid in the body (Yarina and Jess).
2. Appetite increase
Unfortunately, any birth control pill increases appetite, which is the main reason for weight gain. If this is adequately understood, and a balance is maintained between consumption and expenditure of calories, then they are easily converted into heat; and when leading a passive lifestyle, they are deposited in the form of additional kilograms. Women taking OCs are advised to follow a diet with restrictions in fats and partially carbohydrates, which is sufficient for control overweight. So, dear ladies, remember that you take the spoon in your hands yourself!
3. Endocrinological disorders
And now about the most important thing ... If, while taking OK, you move enough, your eating behavior does not deviate in one direction or another (you do not starve yourself and do not eat with the appetite of a “sumo wrestler”), you do not have edema due to for fluid retention in the body, and the numbers on the scales are still increasing, then this is a good reason to contact an endocrinologist! You may want to check your thyroid function*, which is very often indicated by an increase in body mass index.
* Hypothyroidism is a complex of symptoms caused by a decrease in thyroid function. Risk factors: advanced age, pregnancy, dietary iodine deficiency, autoimmune thyroiditis. The manifestations of the disease vary significantly depending on the degree of hormonal deficiency. With a slight decrease in hormone levels, increased fatigue, a tendency to infections, weight gain. With progressive hypothyroidism, symptoms increase, drowsiness appears, skin deteriorates, hair falls out, edema appears, intellectual activity decreases, memory is impaired. Due to the violation (slowdown) of metabolic processes, the risk of atherosclerosis increases, and cardiac disorders appear.
From all of the above, we can draw the following conclusion: a healthy woman who eats rationally and leads an active lifestyle can safely take birth control pills without fear of spoiling her figure. The main thing is that before you start using hormonal contraception for the first time in your life, you must definitely contact a gynecologist for an in-person consultation and undergo all the necessary studies (a detailed family and personal history, blood pressure measurement, laboratory tests) and a gynecological examination (including examination mammary glands, pelvic organs, cytological analysis of cervical smear).
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Good day to all readers!
Topic of today's conversation: Admission influence medicines for weight gain". Can medications affect the appearance of excess weight? How serious is this and what drugs should be taken with caution so as not to get better? Let's discuss.
It happened and you began to notice that you are gaining weight, although you are leading the same lifestyle. Usually, first of all, doctors advise checking tests for hormones. But if you have been ill or sick and are taking medications, then you can think about the effect of certain medications on weight gain.
Many diseases that lead to disruption of metabolic processes affect the set of extra pounds. So, taking antihistamines increases appetite, antidepressants slow down metabolism. For example, thyroid diseases are directly dependent on hormonal levels. As soon as everything is normalized and the disease subsides, the weight returns to normal.
True weight gain can be considered not taking some drugs, but their effect on the general condition of a person. Many drugs, improving the general condition, lead to an increase in appetite and better absorption of food. Without changing the volumes in nutrition and calories, you can easily gain weight. Other drugs, on the contrary, calm and make a person inhibited. Hence, with little physical activity and normal nutrition, it is also easy to put on weight. Different drugs may not directly affect weight gain, but some can increase appetite, others can slow down metabolism.
List of medicines, directly or indirectly
affecting weight gain:
Some medicines used:
- with a stroke
- for breast cancer
- with rheumatoid arthritis
- with migraine
- with depression
- with diabetes
- with convulsions
- during heartburn
Why taking medications
sometimes affects weight gain
♦ It must be remembered that recovery from illness leads to natural weight gain. As an example, the transition from a sparing diet to a healthy diet. The intake of enzymes improves the absorption and digestibility of food. Medicines that reduce the production of thyroid hormones lead to an improvement in the functioning of the whole body and the gastrointestinal tract in particular.
♦ Antiulcer drugs, mild antidepressants affect each patient differently. Some gain weight, others lose weight. It all depends on the type and symptoms of the disease.
♦ Hormonal contraceptives and hormone correcting drugs usually do not affect weight gain if they are chosen correctly. Significant weight gain is possible only from drugs that affect ovulation of the egg.
♦ Non-steroidal drugs (indomethacin and diclofenac) as well as hormonal drugs retain fluid in the body. But with adjustments in diet, salt regimen, and exercise, this can usually be easily managed.
♦ Antihistamines (antiallergic) and sleeping pills have a calming effect on a person. Inhibited, drowsy state leads to a decrease in motor activity. With the usual volume and calorie intake, weight is inevitably added.
Hypertension drugs and their effect on weight gain
During treatment, questions often arise: how to take pills correctly and whether they have an effect on metabolism, specifically, on weight gain.
I suggest you get acquainted with the answer of the cardiologist E.I. Kurbatova to the question of whether it is possible to gain excess weight if taken:
“Today, there are seven main classes. Some of them do not affect weight at all, others even contribute to its reduction. But sometimes the body weight from antihypertensive pills can still increase.
Medicines such as amlodipine and nifedipine can cause water retention in the body. One in 10 to 20 patients who take these drugs develop swelling in the legs. They disappear after changing the medicine.
You can also get better with regular and long-term use of beta-blockers - for example, atenolol.It is believed that if these funds are used within a year, then body weight increases by an average of 1-4 kg. Therefore, if this particular group of drugs is recommended to you, try to strictly follow the diet..
Most people with hypertension take medication on a regular basis. But the essential help of these drugs is possible only in combination, when a diet is observed with a decrease in the amount of salt, fats and sweets. Smoking and excess alcohol should definitely be avoided.
Analyze your condition - keep diaries of medications taken, pressure, weight and write down everything you eat, buy a pedometer and control the number of steps taken. Such visibility will help you to be objective. You will be able to correct your own behavior. If you do everything right, such a health diary will help your doctor choose the appropriate treatment for you that does not affect weight gain, both for hypertension and other diseases.
(!) I repeat, you can significantly gain weight by storing fat in the body by taking:
- tricyclic antidepressants
- antipsychotics
- antidiabetic drugs
- corticosteroid drugs
Usually a good doctor, prescribing these drugs, warns the patient about possible weight gain and tells him how to minimize this problem.
Excess weight and hormones are directly related. Negative life circumstances such as stress or depression malnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle cause disruption of the endocrine system. Due to a malfunction of which, a set of kilograms occurs. That is why it is very important to first regulate hormones for weight loss and restore their healthy balance.
Hormones are chemical elements that act as messengers for coordinating the body's vital processes. The endocrine system, which produces hormones, is closely related to the nervous and immune systems. When one of them fails, it inevitably leads to adverse changes in the other.
Hormones and obesity are closely related, as the former affect appetite, metabolic rate, and fat distribution, leading to hormonal obesity. And it, in turn, can also cause an imbalance in the biological substances of internal secretion.
Even with a well-balanced diet and regular exercise, some women still find it difficult. One factor that many people don't always take into account when it comes to weight loss is how hormones affect a woman's weight.
The body is like a big clockwork, and they are just one of the "cogs" involved in helping all the parts to function smoothly. And sometimes even compliance healthy eating and physical activity cannot protect against the appearance of imbalance and excess weight.
General symptoms:
- Violation of the menstrual cycle.
- Apathy and fatigue.
- Insomnia.
- Reproductive system disorder.
- Scattered attention.
- Decreased libido.
- Increased body hair growth.
- Jumps in blood pressure.
It is impossible to say with certain accuracy which hormone is responsible for weight. Because a decrease or increase in various indicators is immediately reflected in its jump. There are many factors that affect hormonal obesity:
- Pregnancy.
- The period of puberty.
- Lactation.
- Diseases of the endocrine system.
- Menopause.
- Taking hormonal pharmaceuticals.
- Chronic exacerbations.
- Pathologies and neoplasms.
Very often, obesity is associated with chronic inflammation in adipose tissue. Excessive storage of fat leads to stress reactions in fat cells, which in turn leads to the release of inflammatory factors from the fat cells themselves and immune tissue cells. Being overweight increases the risk of a number of diseases, including heart disease, stroke and several types of cancer, and reduces the length and quality of life.
An increase in estrogen production in obese older women is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
To understand how to lose weight during and after a hormonal failure, you need to undergo a medical examination, as well as a doctor's consultation for further treatment. Without this, getting rid of obesity against the background of hormonal imbalance will be a difficult task.
How to lose weight after hormonal failure
Many people believe that the key to losing weight is eating fewer calories than they burn per day. But given formula works perfectly if endocrine system is in the norm. Therefore, the question becomes relevant: is it possible to lose weight with hormonal failure? The answer to it is quite simple: of course, it is possible, because it is easily corrected by taking special preparations, proper nutrition and elimination of negative situations.
How to lose weight after hormonal failure:
- The first step towards recovery is a visit to an endocrinologist. After consultation and testing, it will be possible to determine which hormones are responsible for weight gain in each individual case. For example, the lack of estrogen (for the synthesis of which fat cells are also responsible) provokes the body to redistribute calories into body fat. With low levels of progesterone, fluid retention occurs in the tissues, which inevitably leads to weight gain. And low levels of thyroid hormones, thyroids T 3 and T 4 , affect the slowing down of metabolism, when calories are deposited in the form of sides at the waist, and not burned for energy.
- The second step is a radical change in lifestyle. It is important to consider here that you should not be limited only to taking pharmaceutical drugs. If the hormone cortisol, which is produced during a stressful period, affects weight gain, then first of all it is necessary to exclude this situation. Or try to change your attitude towards her for the good of health. Another point is to establish the right diet. After all, the consumption of a large number of simple carbohydrates affects the production of insulin. A lack of vitamins and minerals disrupts the functioning of the thyroid gland.
What hormone is responsible for weight
Hormones are involved in controlling how the body burns calories for energy. The body is designed to utilize energy from adipose tissue, instead of carbohydrates and muscle. In fact, burning fat gives 3 times more energy.
There are a number of hormones responsible for weight in women. They affect the rate of metabolic processes, performance, regulation of appetite and completeness: 
- insulin;
- prolactin;
- cortisol;
- adrenalin;
- ghrelin, leptin;
- melatonin, endorphin;
- estrogen, progesterone;
- thyroid group.
The influence of hormones on weight is very high. They are able to stimulate or inhibit body functions that are responsible for body weight. Therefore, for effective weight loss they need to be balanced.
The hormone that helps regulate weight is insulin.
Insulin is a protein hormone that stores fat. It is produced by the pancreas and is a hormonal signal to the body to gain weight.
The higher the insulin level, the more weight. Insulin causes obesity.
Its job is to control blood glucose levels. With excessive consumption of sugar and starch, the pancreas ceases to cope with volumes, and insulin production fails. The body begins to distribute glucose in reserve, and not energy. Insulin can not only cause generalized obesity, but also diabetes. At its high values, lipohypertrophy can be observed.
How does the hormone prolactin affect weight loss?
Prolactinoma or high level Prolactin is a blood test produced by the pituitary gland. Usually, prolactin levels are high during pregnancy and after childbirth. Usually return to normal after discontinuation breastfeeding.
Prolactin is very important for the production breast milk, and also affects adipose tissue and metabolic processes of the body. Studies show that increased levels in women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding slow down the rate at which fat is broken down, which can lead to weight gain. In addition, sometimes stress and certain medications can increase the level of prolactin in the blood. It is also associated with menstrual cycle problems, infertility.
Stress regulators cortisol and adrenaline
During emotional stress, the adrenal glands release more cortisol and adrenaline than usual. This helps the body cope with life's difficulties and it is easier to endure them. The problem is that many people are under constant, prolonged stress, which causes the adrenal glands to produce additional cortisol and adrenaline. As a result, this leads to hormonal imbalance.
Cortisol is not a good or bad hormone, it just does what it's supposed to do. .
Cortisol and adrenaline cause the body to burn calories from carbohydrates and muscle mass(squirrel). This literally prevents the breakdown of fat. Their excess production interferes with the functioning of the thyroid gland.
The body's response to high levels of cortisol:
- fatigue;
- weight gain;
- depression;
- liver dysfunction;
- the occurrence of allergies;
- joint pain;
- migraine;
- decreased libido;
- violation of the gastrointestinal tract;
- decrease in immunity.
Excess or insufficient production of both cortisol and adrenaline can negatively affect not only weight, but also energy levels.
Hunger regulators ghrelin and leptin
There are hormonal mechanisms in the body that regulate appetite and weight that try to maintain homeostasis for a long time: leptin and ghrelin. Both are peripheral signals with central effects. In other words, they are secreted in other parts of the body (peripheral) but affect the brain (central).
If you consistently consume less energy (in the form of food) than is expended through basal metabolism and activity (as in diet), the body responds with hunger. These hormones activate the hypolamus.
Leptin releases hunger, ghrelin enhances.
Leptin is produced by adipose tissue and secreted into the circulatory system, where it then travels to the hypothalamus. Leptin tells him that there is enough fat in the body, so the appetite and the amount of food consumed are reduced.
Ghrelin, on the other hand, causes a feeling of hunger. Its elevated levels in the blood lead to constant overeating and gaining excess body weight. To normalize the levels of these hormones, you must:
- get enough sleep;
- avoid starvation;
- reduce or eliminate stress.
Hormones for weight loss during menopause
For the female body, menopause means the cessation of reproductive function and the restructuring of the hormonal background. During this period, the level of estrogen and estradiol rapidly decreases. Their production in the ovaries stops and actively begins in fat reserves.
In old age, this trend leads to an increase in fat storage in the waist and abdomen.
One of the main functions of these hormones is participation in metabolic processes. Therefore, a decrease in their level disrupts the rhythm of absorption of nutrients from food. This is what leads to the fullness of women during menopause, even in the absence of changes in the diet.
Changes in the psycho-emotional sphere also affect the production of increased levels of cortisol. The result is depression and a sedentary lifestyle. The stage of accumulation of calories and weight gain begins.
Postmenopausal women taking estrogen supplements are not prone to massive weight gain. Also, subject to physical active life and proper nutrition, a set of kilograms can be easily prevented.
Metabolic regulators thyroid hormones
Thyroid hormones (thyroid hormones T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ) may play an important role in maintaining a healthy weight. They help regulate the rate at which food is converted into energy. When it slows down, problems with weight loss begin.
Hypothyroidism is a lack of thyroid hormones.
If the body produces too much thyroid hormone (called hyperthyroidism), then the metabolic rate increases, making it difficult to gain weight.
With a lack of thyroids, the body stops utilizing food for energy, sending it to the fat reserve. To cope with this problem, you can include seafood rich in iodine and selenium in your diet. It is these trace elements that are important for the normal function of the thyroid gland.
Antistress melatonin and endorphins
Melatonin has a natural calming effect. It is responsible for regulating circadian rhythms and improving performance. Healthy indicators help to cope with stressful situations. It also ensures the productivity and activity of all body systems during the day.
Melatonin is produced only at night.
To regulate the indicators of this hormone, it is necessary to normalize the mode of wakefulness and sleep - go to bed at the same time and fall asleep in a dark room (without additional lighting in the form of nightlights).
Endorphins are peptides naturally produced in the brain. They are also called hormones of joy, as they are able to influence psycho-emotional behavior. They reduce pain, similar to the action of opium compounds. An increase in the synthesis of endorphins by cells leads a person to euphoria and a feeling of pleasure. This helps to avoid depressive and apathetic conditions that lead to weight gain.
The production of endorphins is affected by prolonged physical activity and strong feelings (love, fame, creativity).
muscle builders growth hormones
The pituitary gland in the brain produces growth hormone (somatropin), which affects a person's height and helps build bones and muscles. It also affects metabolism. Researchers have found that its levels are lower in obese people than in people of normal weight. With age, the level of somatropin falls, and by the age of 50 its production stops altogether.
To activate growth hormone for weight loss, you must follow a sleep schedule. The peak of its production by the body occurs in the first hours of falling asleep. The intake of amino acids, arginine and ornithine, also stabilizes the performance. And in combination with vitamins C, group B, potassium, magnesium and calcium, their effectiveness is only enhanced.
female hormones
An important role in maintaining weight balance is played by the female sex hormone - estrogen. At its high level, legs are also noted. With age and with the onset of menopause, its indicators decrease and fat begins to be deposited mainly on the arms, waist and abdomen. After the age of 40, the body receives the production of estrogen from fat cells. Therefore, their supply becomes vital and it is much more difficult to lose weight than in younger years.
To normalize the level of estrogen, it is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of vegetables rich in fiber. They help to remove not only toxins, but also excess hormones. To avoid strong gas formation, vegetables should be introduced gradually, bringing the norm to 45 grams of fiber per day.
How to lose weight by taking hormones
Application hormonal drugs for weight loss is prescribed to correct the excess of female sex hormones and the lack of thyroid hormones. It is important to understand how to lose weight properly by taking hormones. After all, these pills are not a means to lose extra pounds. Their goal is to restore balance in the body. Weight loss will be the result of these changes.
The intake of hormonal drugs should definitely be agreed with the doctor.
There is also a third group that can significantly help in weight loss. These are tablets containing somatropin, a growth hormone. However, their use may have adverse effects on appearance and health of older women. They are unsafe, as the body produces growth hormone only until the moment of full maturation, mainly in adolescence.
They are very popular all over the world. In developed countries, up to 50% of women of childbearing age, when choosing a method of protection from unwanted pregnancy, give preference to them.
Contraceptive pills containing hormones are easy to use, do not disturb the harmony of intimacy and are almost 100% reliable. In any case, oral contraceptives are recognized as the most reliable of all currently known methods of protection. Why is it that only every tenth Russian woman trusts pills?
There are several reasons for the mistrust of oral contraceptives. First of all, this is a lack of awareness about the benefits, contraindications and possible risks when using hormonal pills and conservatism of our compatriots. One of the main motives for "abstaining" women from hormonal is the widespread belief that weight gain is inevitable when using birth control pills.
How justified is it? Like most myths, this judgment is based on some real facts.
In order to get a clear idea of the general mechanism of action of oral contraceptives, let's delve a little into the theory and history of the issue.
Who invented birth control pills?
For the first time, the use of hormones to prevent unwanted pregnancy was proposed in 1923 by the Austrian physiologist Ludwig Haberlant. His assumption was based on the fact that in a woman's body, saturated with sex hormones, the maturation and release of the egg from the ovary is inhibited, and thus pregnancy is excluded. It would seem that everything is simple.
However, the path from theory to broad practice turned out to be long and difficult. And only in 1960 appeared on sale "miracle pills" - Enovid.
By the way, it is with the advent of the first contraceptive pills that sociologists, and now historians, connect the beginning of the sexual revolution in the West. Women who took these pills, for the first time in history, felt like equal partners with men in bed. Now the weaker sex could finally get pleasure from intimacy, not overshadowed by the thought of an unwanted conception. It really was 100% effective! The widely publicized remedy quickly gained popularity among hundreds of thousands of women.
Alas, the euphoria did not last long. To my great disappointment, it turned out that the drug had quite pronounced and very unpleasant side effects.
Enovid and other "high-dose" (i.e. containing high concentrations of hormones) contraceptive pills, later called "first-generation drugs", caused not only the development of the so-called "false pregnancy" syndrome (nausea, breast engorgement, weakness, fluid retention in the body), but also more serious consequences - an increase in blood clotting and a shift in its biochemical parameters (primarily the level of liver enzymes and sugar). Now such drugs are no longer produced.
The listed undesirable effects were due to two factors: significant doses of hormones and the inclusion of all hormonal components in the preparations, rather than isolated highly active fractions.
On the way to modernization
Considering that first-generation drugs were a huge commercial success, pharmacologists began to enthusiastically look for ways to solve the problem " side effects"contraceptive pills.
And it must be admitted that very serious results have been achieved in this area over the past three decades. Without going into "technical" details, I will tell you two main directions for the modernization of contraceptives: a significant decrease in the concentration of hormones (currently it is reduced tenfold - while maintaining one hundred percent contraceptive effectiveness) and the use of not "pure" hormones, but their synthetic analogues , which have greater biological activity with a significantly lower manifestation of side effects.
The mechanism of development of weight gain in some women with prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives is now thoroughly studied.
It is due to two circumstances.
First. One of the hormones found in birth control pill, - progesterone - contributes to a slight fluid retention in the body.
Second. Taking hormonal pills can affect the change in eating behavior, namely, increase appetite.
The drugs themselves do not have "intrinsic calorie content" and thus are not directly capable of causing weight gain.
Note that not all women who take oral contraceptives, even for a long time, experience weight gain. Modern drugs have a significantly less effect on weight changes - due to a decrease in the concentration of hormones by an order of magnitude compared to the first generation "miracle pills" and the use of synthetic analogues of female sex hormones. Now on sale, including in our country, there are drugs that instead of progesterone contain drospirenone, a synthetic hormone that helps to remove excess fluid from the body. Unfortunately, the price of drospirenone tablets is still significantly higher than the price of conventional oral contraceptives (OCs).
In addition, modern contraceptive pills, in addition to almost one hundred percent reliability when used correctly, have proven effectiveness in normalizing the menstrual cycle, in preventing ovarian cancer and inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs. Some of the drugs of the OK group, having an antiandrogenic effect (an effect aimed at eliminating the influence of male sex hormones), reduce hair greasiness and significantly improve the condition of the skin. Simply put, they reduce acne.
Is being overweight a necessary evil?
Is it possible to avoid weight gain in the group of women who still gain weight while taking oral contraceptives?
Yes, and yes again. This is not only possible, but necessary. All in your hands! It is enough, especially in the first months of taking birth control pills, to control your eating behavior, not only to monitor the amount of food consumed and its calorie content, but also to Special attention for its quality composition. In other words, follow the fundamental principles of a healthy diet: limit fatty foods, confectionery, refuse canned food (especially in oil), smoked meat and fish, give preference to low-fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits, greens. Eliminate mayonnaise from the diet, reduce consumption vegetable oil(it is very high in calories) and season salads with soy sauce or, even better, lemon juice, limit salt intake. Again, eat more vegetables. Possessing a meager calorie content and a large volume, they will help to deceive the "satiation center" of the brain, filling the stomach with fiber, which, moreover, perfectly regulates intestinal function and is practically not absorbed in it.
Be honest with yourself: you will never be able to deceive the scales! It is from overeating women that today a large detachment of "girlfriends" is formed, who stubbornly spread the myth about the inevitability of weight gain when taking oral contraceptives.
The doctor will help you
There is another extremely important aspect when choosing contraceptives, which all doctors have been writing and talking about for a long time. Unfortunately, only a small part of women listen to this undoubtedly important rule- Before you start taking birth control pills, you should definitely visit a doctor. Even if you feel great and your best friend is overjoyed at the "completely wonderful and inexpensive" new oral contraceptive and strongly advises you to try it.
Firstly, there are a lot of drugs belonging to the group of contraceptives - at present, about five hundred of them are registered by the Russian Pharmacopeia.
Secondly, OK have a number of contraindications for use. For example, they should not be taken by those who suffer from severe diseases of the liver, blood vessels, and heart. Caution is required in patient selection diabetes, as well as those who use constant treatment for a number of chronic diseases (in the latter case, the effectiveness of birth control pills can be significantly reduced).
Only a qualified specialist can deal with your condition, conduct, if necessary, an additional examination.
Only a doctor can understand the nuances of many contraceptive drugs, each of which has its own characteristics and specifics in the use of various groups of women of childbearing age.
What to choose?
So, if you and your doctor decide that after childbirth it is worth starting or continuing to use hormonal contraceptives, then the following options are possible.
Breastfeeding women are suitable for drugs containing only progestogens - hormones produced in the ovaries, which are especially numerous in the second phase of the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Reception should begin after the sixth week after childbirth (we clarify that during the first 6-8 weeks after childbirth, sexual intercourse should be excluded). If these are mini pills ( Microlute, Esluton etc.), then they are taken constantly, without interruptions, daily, 1 piece, i.e. when one package (35 pieces) ends, the next one immediately begins. In this case, it is very important to take the pill at the same time.
The use of combined oral contraceptives is not recommended during breastfeeding: they reduce the amount of breast milk, reduce the duration of lactation and can affect the growth of the child. Therefore, switching to COCs is allowed only after the cessation of breastfeeding. Women who are not breastfeeding can start using these drugs 6 weeks after giving birth.
Who needs pills?
What is the generalized portrait of our compatriot, who is the ideal consumer of birth control pills?
This is a married or regular sex life with a regular partner (for casual sex or for several partners there is a condom, because in addition to AIDS, there are many more unpleasant, sometimes incurable sexually transmitted diseases) a woman of childbearing age who does not plan to become pregnant in the coming months . She smokes a little, and even better - abstains from nicotine, drinks alcohol rarely and in symbolic quantities. This woman leads healthy lifestyle life not in words, but in deeds. Her nutrition is rational, balanced. She does not rush to the extremes of newfangled diets and food additives eats moderately, preferring low-calorie foods, includes in its diet fish, white poultry meat, a lot of vegetables, primarily green ones, and fruits. Reasonably limits the use of strong coffee and tea. Such a woman, as a rule, is well educated, successful at work, and responsible. She strictly adheres to the recommended schedule for taking the pills. Our heroine takes care of her beauty and health not only with the help of cosmetics, but also dosed sports loads, and most importantly, regular visits to doctors of leading specialties for the purpose of preventive examination: to identify disturbing moments at the earliest stages of the development of possible diseases.
Remember the immutable rule: any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. And the sooner it is detected, the more effectively and quickly it is cured.
Are you saying that I want too much from perfect woman? I assure you, this is not a figment of the imagination, such women exist in the vastness of our country - and in large numbers. And their army grows with those who make a choice in favor of hormonal pills, which are so easy and convenient to use and give a feeling of complete harmony of intimate life with a loved one.
If you have decided to refrain from using oral contraceptives for one reason or another, or your doctor has not advised you to do this, do not worry. Now there are other modern means of protection against unplanned pregnancy, and each couple will be able to choose the most suitable method for themselves.
If you hesitate whether to take the drug, or are firmly convinced of the advisability of using OK, do not postpone a visit to the doctor. The doctor will conduct the necessary examination and will be able to recommend the best drug in your particular case, talking about the features of its action and application.
In conclusion, I would like to wish our readers and, perhaps, readers, well-being, love and health. And let only competent and friendly people in white coats always meet on your way!
