Naturopathic Therapies for Weight Management
5 Causes of Weight Gain We commonly test and treat:
1. Thyroid - controls the metabolism and whether to burn or store energy. A 2009 study found that even thyroid hormone in the upper end of the normal range have increased weight gain[1]
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2. Cortisol - That’s our stress hormone that stimulates appetite. Research shows that people who have higher levels of cortisol tend to also have increased weight gain[2]
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3. Progesterone & estrogen
A 2009 & 2021[3] study found that an imbalance was associated with increased weight. Commonly these also affect a person’s mood, their cycle and energy levels
4. Insulin resistance & diabetes → excessively hungry and eat more
5. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals[4],[5] — Items in products and the environment that cause hormone imbalances.
A 2015 and 2020 study found higher rates of weight gain in those exposed to these chemicals
Natural Therapies for Weight Management
Some supplements have been shown to lead to increase metabolism and lead to a modest improvement in weight, but no supplement will work as a stand alone therapy. The best approach is one that is comprehensive. This means looking at underlying causes to weight gain and addressing then. Dr. Baker (ND) will create a food plan that’s customized to you and takes into account the best research available.
There is no perfect diet that fits everyone, however there are certain foods that appear to increase metabolism. Other foods help to reduce spikes in blood sugar, which can reduce food cravings. With all this mind, Dr. Baker (ND) has looked at research on over 20 different diets and individual foods and ranked each of these based on their impact on weight and the metabolism. Altogether he has built a protocol based on the latest research available so that he can best help you reach your goals.
References
[1] Alevizaki M, Saltiki K, Voidonikola P, Mantzou E, Papamichael C, Stamatelopoulos K. Free thyroxine is an independent predictor of subcutaneous fat in euthyroid individuals. Eur J Endocrinol. 2009 Sep;161(3):459-65. doi: 10.1530/EJE-09-0441. PMID: 19700640.
[2] Schorr M, Lawson EA, Dichtel LE, Klibanski A, Miller KK. Cortisol Measures Across the Weight Spectrum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Sep;100(9):3313-21. doi: 10.1210/JC.2015-2078. Epub 2015 Jul 14. PMID: 26171799; PMCID: PMC4570173.
[3] Whynott RM, Summers KM, Jakubiak M, Van Voorhis BJ, Mejia RB. The effect of weight and body mass index on serum progesterone values and live birth rate in cryopreserved in vitro fertilization cycles. F S Rep. 2021 Feb 18;2(2):195-200. doi: 10.1016/j.xfre.2021.02.005. PMID: 34278354; PMCID: PMC8267385.
[4]Gore AC, Chappell VA, Fenton SE, Flaws JA, Nadal A, Prins GS, Toppari J, Zoeller RT. EDC-2: The Endocrine Society's Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Endocr Rev. 2015 Dec;36(6):E1-E150. doi: 10.1210/er.2015-1010. Epub 2015 Nov 6. PMID: 26544531; PMCID: PMC4702494.
[5]Kahn LG, Philippat C, Nakayama SF, Slama R, Trasande L. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: implications for human health. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020 Aug;8(8):703-718. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30129-7. PMID: 32707118; PMCID: PMC7437820.