Exercising regularly and following a healthy diet, but still not losing weight? Weight gain without an obvious cause is a common first symptom of underlying metabolic disease. Sometimes it is due to low testosterone. Science says there’s a close connection between low testosterone and weight gain.
People often think that it’s only a man’s problem, but the reality is that low testosterone in women is a huge silent epidemic. If you have excess body fat around the waist and you cannot see why, low levels of testosterone in women just may be the missing link.
Low testosterone weight gain is something that standard doctors aren’t looking for, and millions of women suffer from this problem.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is an important steroid hormone in both men and women. It helps maintain muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, and a healthy metabolic rate.
It is mostly synthesized in men in the testes. In women, it is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands.
Although we spend most of our time talking about low testosterone in men, in functional medicine, low testosterone in women is a quickly emerging issue. If the level is not in the optimal range, your whole metabolic engine slows down in both males and females.
Testosterone directly regulates your:
- Muscle mass by stimulating protein synthesis to maintain lean tissue and a high resting metabolic rate.
- Excessive fat burning and storage of harmful abdominal fat around organs.
- Insulin sensitivity and lower the the risk of type 2 diabetes
- Energy and motivation by driving cellular energy production.
- Bone density to prevent osteopenia and osteoporosis.
- Mood and cognitive function by avoiding depression, irritability, and brain fog that hamper healthy behaviors.
What Are Normal Testosterone Levels?
In men:
- Normal total testosterone: 300-1,000 ng/dL
- Borderline low: 300–400 ng/dL (many men fall into this range and have symptoms)
- Low testosterone: below 300 ng/dL
After men reach the age of 30, their natural level of testosterone begins to drop at a rate of 1–2% per year. A man’s testosterone level gets lower by 30-40% by the time he reaches 50. And this is often enough to cause symptoms, especially if he was in the lower range of normal when he first started.
In women:
- Normal total testosterone: 15-70 ng/dL
- Low testosterone in women: less than 15 ng/dL
Testosterone levels in women start to decrease in the 20s and plummet drastically during perimenopause and menopause.
Does Low Testosterone Actually Cause Weight Gain?
Yes. Low T is a physiological cause of weight gain. Low Testosterone weight gain occurs because the hormone is basically the conductor of your metabolic process. As levels decline, it greatly affects how your body handles energy and food.
Here’s how low testosterone makes your body fat:
It can reduce your metabolism:
Testosterone is the most important hormone for the maintenance of lean muscle mass. Your muscles continue to burn calories even when you are at rest. However, it is testosterone that governs muscular development, and a deficiency in this hormone leads to the loss of lean muscles. As you lose muscle, your metabolism decreases. Even without changing your diet, you find that you’re burning fewer calories each day.
It causes insulin resistance:
Low testosterone decreases insulin sensitivity, that is, the efficiency with which your cells absorb and use glucose. Testosterone helps your cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use it for energy. If your hormone level is low, your cells no longer respond to insulin. Your body stores carbs for fuel without burning them. Therefore, men with low levels of testosterone are much more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
It creates the Aromatase Trap:
Aromatase is an enzyme found in fat tissue. The aromatases convert the rest of your testosterone into estrogen. As you gain fat, aromatase increases. It further reduces your levels of Testosterone, creating a vicious cycle of weight gain and low testosterone.
Low Testosterone Symptoms
If your metabolism has slowed, you’ll probably notice other warning signs. So, exactly what are the symptoms of low testosterone?
Low Testosterone Symptoms In Men
- Reduced libido and sexual desire
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased morning erections
- Low sperm count
- Infertility
- Loss of body and facial hair
- Breast tissue development
- Shrinking testicles
- Hot flashes
- Depressed mood
- Brain Fog
- Poor Sleep
- Abdominal fat
Low Testosterone Symptoms In Women
- Extreme fatigue
- Low libido
- Decreased sexual interest
- Difficulty achieving orgasm
- Unexplained weight gain
- Loss of muscle tone despite exercise
- Low mood
- Depression
- Reduced motivation
- Brain fog
- Hair loss and thinning.
- Low bone density
- Low confidence
If your test shows low testosterone levels, our doctor will recommend testosterone replacement therapy to fix your levels.
Does Testosterone Therapy Make You Gain Weight?
If low testosterone causes weight gain, it seems logical that replacing it would do the opposite. But a lot of individuals are afraid of the reverse effect. Does testosterone therapy make you gain weight?
In general, Testosterone replacement therapy does not lead to weight gain. Instead, in most cases, it causes a reduction in visceral fat and an increase in lean muscle mass.
It is widely seen that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is linked with substantial weight loss for most of the men. Some men may see a slight increase in weight during the initial stages of TRT, as a result of fluid retention.
In a 5-year study of 411 hypogonadal men with obesity, long-term testosterone treatment resulted in progressive decreases in body weight and waist circumference, with an average loss of 16 kg of body weight.
Weight gain from this therapy is only a possibility if the dosage is wrongly calculated or if your provider fails to keep track of how much of your testosterone gets converted to estrogen.
If you are on TRT and gaining weight, this suggests that some other factors, such as poor sleep, poor nutrition, excess alcohol, or calorie restrictions, are causing this weight gain and need a closer look.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT): When It Is Indicated:
TRT is suitable if:
- Two blood tests in the morning confirm that your testosterone level is low.
- Clinical symptoms are present and affecting the quality of life
- Secondary causes (obesity, sleep apnea, side effects from certain medications, etc.) have been treated, but testosterone is still low.
How to Fix Low Testosterone and Weight Gain?
Treatment for weight gain & low testosterone works best when it targets the hormonal deficiency as well as the metabolic environment. Here’s what you should do:
1. Get Comprehensive Blood Work
Sometimes, standard panels do not reach the mark. The important tests you need to ask for include total testosterone, free testosterone (the active form), Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG), estradiol (to check the aromatase effect), and a complete thyroid panel.
2. Lift Heavy Weights
If your body doesn’t believe you need muscle to survive, it won’t create any. The quickest way to naturally boost the level of Testosterone is by engaging in resistance training. Big movements such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and rows.
3. Eat for Hormone Production
You need dietary fat and cholesterol to build hormones. Don’t avoid eggs, avocados, olive oil, and high-quality meats. Calorie restrictions or a fat-free diet will turn off your natural hormones. It is best to eat a higher level of protein to maintain your muscle mass.
5. Practice Mindful Breathing
Most of your testosterone is released during REM (deep) sleep. If you get less than 7 hours of sleep per night or have frequent interruptions in sleep, your testosterone will drop significantly.
5. Lower Your Cortisol Levels
Chronic Stress causes an increase in cortisol. Cortisol and testosterone work in opposition: if one goes up, the other goes down. You should reduce excessive caffeine, be careful about over-exercising, and meditate to actively decompress.
Bottom Line
Does low testosterone cause weight gain? Yes, absolutely. But stubborn weight gain is a symptom and not the problem. When low testosterone and weight gain are connected in your body, no amount of starvation diets or excessive cardio will fix it. You need to treat the hormonal deficiency first in order to break this cycle.
At Kairos Integrative Care, we believe advanced hormone testing and treatment should be accessible to everyone. That is why we accept most major insurance plans to assist you with your lab work and visits.
Lola, one of our integrative nurse practitioners, will look at the root causes of low testosterone, control your estrogen levels appropriately, and develop a customized treatment plan to get your metabolism back on track.
We see patients in Houston, Sugar Land, Richmond, and surrounding areas (77046 & 77478) and accepting new patients now. For your convenience, we also offer telemedicine appointments for patients across Texas.
Book your consultation today!
