Everything You Should Know About Hormones and Weight Loss

Losing weight is difficult, but if you’ve done everything right and nothing budges, what else could it be? Maybe it’s not the weight loss treatment in Singapore that’s the problem – it could be your hormones working against your progress from the inside out.

Hormones are fickle creatures, and when it comes to weight loss, they might be the real culprit behind stubborn kilos that refuse to budge. While calorie counting and cardio get the spotlight, the hidden influence of your body’s chemical messengers often gets overlooked.

If you’ve been eating clean, moving more, and still struggling with the scale, it’s time to pay closer attention to your hormones. Read more below to uncover how hormonal imbalances might be stalling your efforts, and what you can do to get back on track.

What Are Hormones and Why Do They Matter

Hormones are your body’s internal messengers. They are chemical signals produced by glands that travel through your bloodstream, regulating essential functions like metabolism, mood, hunger, and energy levels.

When balanced, they work quietly in the background. But even slight shifts can disrupt metabolic efficiency, fat storage, and digestion, especially when it comes to weight.

These tiny messengers matter more than most realise. Whether it’s cortisol triggering fat storage, insulin affecting glucose metabolism, or thyroid hormones regulating energy expenditure, hormones can heavily influence how easily you gain or lose weight.

How Hormones Affect You and Your Weight Loss

Hormones are crucial, often playing a leading role in your weight loss journey. If you’re struggling to see progress, hormonal imbalances may be affecting your metabolism, fat storage, and appetite.

Here’s how different hormonal imbalances can quietly derail your progress:

Hormonal Imbalances and Metabolism

Your metabolism isn’t just about genetics – it’s also deeply influenced by hormones like thyroid hormones, insulin, and cortisol. When your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones (a condition known as hypothyroidism), your metabolism slows down. This means your body burns fewer calories, even at rest, making it easier to gain weight and harder to lose it.

Insulin plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels and fat storage. However, when your body becomes insulin-resistant, excess glucose is stored as fat, particularly around the abdomen. This is especially common in individuals with high-stress lifestyles, which can further disrupt metabolic efficiency.

Hormonal Effects of Stress and Sleep

Cortisol is your body’s stress hormone. While it’s helpful in small doses, like when you’re dodging traffic or racing a deadline, chronic stress causes cortisol levels to remain elevated. Chronic cortisol overload triggers fat storage, especially around the abdomen,  leading to increased fat accumulation—especially around the abdomen.

Poor sleep doesn’t help either. A lack of quality rest disrupts cortisol regulation and affects other hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, which control hunger and fullness. The result? You feel hungrier, crave sugar, and are more likely to overeat or indulge in late-night snacking.

Hormones and Appetite Regulation

Think you’re eating because you’re hungry? Maybe, or maybe it’s your hormones talking. Leptin and ghrelin are two major players in appetite control. Leptin signals fullness, while ghrelin tells your brain it’s time to eat. When you’re sleep-deprived, stressed, or on a restrictive diet, this balance gets disrupted, leading to increased cravings and difficulty managing portion control.

High levels of estrogen, particularly when out of sync, can also affect hunger and cravings, making weight management more challenging, especially for women during certain phases of their menstrual cycle.

Hormonal Changes During Ageing

As we age, hormonal shifts become more pronounced. For women, declining estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause can cause increased fat storage, particularly around the midsection. For men, testosterone dips can result in muscle loss, reduced energy, and a slower metabolism.

Additionally, thyroid function tends to decrease with age, further slowing metabolic processes. These changes make weight loss more difficult, even when your lifestyle hasn’t changed much.

Lifestyle Approaches to Hormonal Balance and Weight Loss

Fortunately, a few strategic lifestyle tweaks can help balance your hormones naturally and support your weight loss goals.



• Prioritise Sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours of quality rest to regulate cortisol, ghrelin, and leptin.
• Reduce Stress: Daily mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing, journaling, or gentle qigong or tai chi, can help lower cortisol levels.
• Eat Smart: Incorporate protein-rich meals, healthy fats, and fibre to stabilise blood sugar and reduce insulin spikes.
• Move Slow (But Smartly): Low-impact exercises like walking or qigong can reduce stress and promote better hormonal balance.
• Limit Sugar and Processed Carbs: These trigger insulin surges and fat storage.
  
  

While these changes take time, they support sustainable, visible results and help your hormones work with you, not against you.

Medical Treatments for Hormonal Weight Loss in Singapore

For some, lifestyle changes alone may not be enough, especially if hormone imbalances are more severe. That’s where professional interventions come in. Many weight loss clinics in Singapore now offer advanced solutions that address hormonal root causes.

You might encounter:



• Blood tests to detect thyroid, estrogen, and insulin levels
• Personalised nutrition plans tailored to your hormonal profile
• Hormone therapy or medically guided weight loss programmes
• Non-invasive treatments that support metabolic health
• These options are especially useful for those with conditions like PCOS, insulin resistance, or hormonal weight gain due to menopause. For busy adults juggling career and family, a structured weight loss programme in Singapore can offer much-needed guidance, accountability, and results.
  

How TCM Can Help Regulate Your Hormones for Effective Weight Loss

Beyond Western approaches, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic way to tackle weight loss by addressing underlying hormonal imbalances and organ function. If you’ve tried diets and are still experiencing a stubborn plateau, a weight loss programme based on TCM principles in Singapore may offer a fresh perspective.

Here’s how TCM supports hormonal harmony:

• Cupping Therapy: Enhances circulation, loosens visceral fat, and improves metabolic efficiency. It stimulates acupoints to promote detoxification, helping your body eliminate excess fluids and waste that may contribute to weight gain.
• Scraping Therapy: Stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation, reducing fluid retention and supporting the body's natural detoxification process. Helps disperse stagnant blood and enhances metabolic function, which can influence hormone regulation.
• Heat Treatment: Targets stubborn fat, improves blood circulation, and promotes relaxation. Aids in fat breakdown, particularly in problem areas such as the upper arms, waist, and thighs, while also reducing stress-related weight gain.
  
  

These combined treatments, alongside careful dietary changes and mindful movement, support your body’s ability to shed weight and maintain balance more naturally.

Get the Best Weight Loss Treatment in Singapore

If hormonal imbalances have been a silent obstacle in your weight loss efforts, it’s time to change the narrative. With the right mix of lifestyle changes, targeted metabolic support, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)-based therapies, you can help your body restore balance, improve circulation, and enhance fat metabolism naturally.

Absolute Wellness’s CSH Therapy® offers a holistic, non-invasive solution designed to complement your body’s natural healing processes, especially for those dealing with stubborn, hormone-related weight gain.

Ready to take back control of your health? Discover how a tailored weight loss treatment in Singapore can bring you one step closer to your goals – and a healthier, happier you. Get in touch with us today!