11 hidden weight loss blockers

"The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry", Robert Burns.

Around 4 million people worldwide die from obesity each year. It's even more interesting that in 85% of cases where people start various weight loss programs, they don't see results. The situation often stays the same without reaching their desired weight, or they may even gain weight back.⁰

Instead of listing all the reasons, let's focus on the medical reasons and lifestyle factors that can make weight loss difficult.

Medical Reasons:

1. Hypothyroidism, including mild cases, is when your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones. Thyroid hormones control your metabolism and are needed for many body processes. 

   When levels are unbalanced, it can cause serious issues like:

   • inflammation^₁

   • insulin resistance²

   • high cholesterol³

   • an inability to handle stress well

   Possible reasons:

   • nutritional imbalances. The recommended balance of omega 3 to omega 6(5) is 1 to 4, but most people use 1 to 15, this dysbalance in consumption is due to the large amount of vegetable oils consumed in food. Read more here.

   • toxic exposures

   • allergens

   • infections and stress

   Fortunately, thyroid imbalances are often treatable.

   The simple way to assess your thyroid function:

   Measure your body temperature first thing in the morning, upon waking. The reason this works is because when your tissue level of T3 is high, you’ll have a higher metabolic rate, and hence, higher body temperature and pulse rate.

   Having a body temperature right around 98 degrees Fahrenheit upon waking is a sign of healthy thyroid. Around midday, you want a temperature of about 98.6 degrees F. Your pulse should also rise between morning and midday and be between 60 to 100 beats per minute.

   If your temperature and pulse rate are consistently low, then you have low metabolism. If your temperature and pulse fall after eating breakfast, that’s another bad sign, as this indicates you’re running on stress hormones, which is anything but healthy.

   If you have any suspicions, don't be lazy to have a checkup with your doctor.

2. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women is linked to obesity and worsens insulin resistance. Weight gain, especially in those genetically prone, can trigger PCOS symptoms.

3. Birth control pills can affect thyroid hormone levels by increasing TBG proteins in the liver which affects the serum levels of T4 and T3.

4. Some medications like beta blockers and antidepressants can also interfere.

5. Vitamin D deficiency is often seen with higher BMIs.

Lifestyle Reasons:

1. Sleep issues - people sleeping 8.5 hours per night lost more fat (1.4kg) than those sleeping 5.5 hours (0.6kg) when dieting. Poor sleep increases muscle loss instead of fat loss.

2. The peripheral clock and circadian rhythms influence energy conservation processes. In the study, women who consumed more calories at breakfast (50%) than at dinner (14%) lost more weight (5.1 kg difference) and reported greater satiety than another group following the opposite eating patterns.

3. Dehydration - the adults who were inadequately hydrated had higher BMIs and higher odds of being obese compared to those who were adequately hydrated. 

4. Alcohol messes up how our bodies process fats:

   • increases the production of fatty acids and triglycerides, causing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is implicated in the aging process and various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and others.

   • decreases burning of fatty acids, so we can't use fat for energy

   Excessive alcohol consumption leads to impulsive behavior, unplanned meals, and insomnia. 

   Read more here.

5. Stress is linked to weight gain, especially when combined with poor sleep and binge eating.

6. Plastic - Bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogs to promote lipid accumulation and enhance the maturation of fat cells, which can increase their number and size.

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Each mindful small step today will become a giant leap for your well-being tomorrow.

Warm regards,
Kos