The human body's eight major endocrine glands produce more "mail" than any global carrier in the form of constant hormone messages. Hormones bravely endure the wind and weather of the body's bloodstream, tissues and organs to bring us the best and worst news. According to the National Cancer Society, hormones are categorized as proteins, sex or steroids and are "controlled by some form of a negative feedback mechanism." This interdependence on other system processes helps to determine a variety of body outcomes, including weight control.
Testosterone and Estrogen
Men between the ages of 30 and 35 generally begin seeing consistent abdominal weight gain due to larger amounts of inactive and free testosterone being converted into insulin and estradiol estrogen, according to research published by Life Extension, a nutritional research company. Testosterone replacement therapy is often an accepted solution for rebuilding lost muscle mass by turning back the clock to healthier testosterone levels. Testosterone gels, patches, injections and tablets are administered by doctors and along with a healthy lifestyle, should aid in abdominal weight reduction.
DHEA
An offspring of the adrenal glands, this steroid hormone brims with fat-burning enzymes that are quintessential for weight management of men and women. Unfortunately, DHEA levels begin to decrease naturally after the age of thirty and are responsible for an abundance of health issues as a consequence, according to researchers at MayoClinic.com. Synthetic forms of DHEA have been created in laboratories using wild yam extracts, though the body cannot convert wild yams into DHEA.
Cortisol
This steroid hormone is the body's energy strategist in its knack of constantly moving fat around in the body to accommodate physiological demands. Cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands and although it regulates many hormones associated with appetite, its own functionality is controlled by enzymes dwelling in fat cells that declare when it should be active or inactive, according to research published at the University of New Mexico. Cortisol most commonly prevents weight loss when triggered by psychological and physical stresses that result in "greater amounts of cortisol being produced at the tissue level."
