Poor Adrenal Function Can Prevent Weight Loss

A critical test to have done for patients who are dealing with resistant weight loss is an adrenal stress index test. Too much cortisol can lead to weight gain, especially in the abdominal area.

How Are Your Adrenals Functioning?

When you’re in the early stages of stress, your adrenal glands produce a lot of cortisol. High cortisol levels make it hard to go to sleep at night, because your body feels “wired.” If you are under a lot of stress for too long, your body down-regulates the production of cortisol to protect you from the damaging effects of prolonged exposure to high cortisol. When this happens, your adrenal glands aren’t making enough cortisol for you to have daily energy or function optimally.

Early stages of chronic stress = high cortisol
Late-stage of chronic stress = low cortisol

The adrenal stress index test tells us how the adrenal glands are functioning and whether you’re producing too much cortisol or too little.

Source: Quora

How Cortisol Influences Resistant Weight Loss

Fluctuating blood sugar levels take a toll on your adrenals because when your blood sugar is too low your body thinks you’re starving and will produce more cortisol. Irregular blood sugar can also trigger inflammation and causes problems with insulin regulation and leptin signaling.

Being stuck in fight or flight mode signals to your body that you are in survival mode. Your body is more likely to hold onto fat, especially belly fat, rather than get rid of it. Too little cortisol can mean you’ve hit adrenal exhaustion, which is going to prevent you from exercising because you have no energy.

Poor Adrenal Function Causes Cravings

If you are suffering from adrenal fatigue, your body will also crave easy sources of energy, such as sugar and carbs. Having insufficient energy makes it very difficult to stick any diet or eat healthy because your body uncontrollably craves carbs (glucose) which is the fastest form of energy for your brain.

Getting control of your adrenal function is vital to achieving a healthy weight. With adrenal fatigue becoming more of a plaguing problem it should always be considered when dealing with resistant weight loss.

Here’s To A Better Life,

Dr. Steve Puckette