Many women are seeking weight loss, but in many cases, it is not about calories in versus calories burned. We look at what may be causing unexplained weight gain and stubborn weight loss. A women may be suffering from stress, lack of sleep and a poor diet, resulting in micronutrient deficiencies that cause inflammation in the body and contribute to weight issues. We must address these things first and then drill down to address three “buckets” of other causes: gut issues, toxic burden and hormonal imbalance.

The first bucket is gut issues. Low stomach acid, pancreatic insufficiency, gall bladder issues and bacterial and fungal overgrowth, food allergies and sensitivities all contribute to poor digestion, bloating and weight gain. There are women that eat very few calories, yet still continue to gain weight. Once they identify the digestive issue and correct digestion, promote a healthy diet, the person starts to lose weight.

The second bucket is toxic exposure and toxic burden. Toxins are sequestered in fat cells, so it may be difficult to lose weight unless we limit the toxic exposure and give the body the tools to help eliminate toxins. This is a very nutrient-driven process which follows dealing with gastric issues. We start by changing the diet, filtering water and using more organic foods and products, including personal care and cleaning agents. Adding a specific detox shake provides the nutrients to help “pull” toxins out of the body. A 14-to-30-day detox program is recommended. During and after the program, women may start seeing their weight drop.

The third bucket is hormonal, addressing high insulin, blood sugar, uric acid and leptin levels. We know that a sluggish or poorly managed thyroid will also prevent women from losing weight. When a woman is under chronic or acute stress, it will spike cortisol levels which affect insulin, blood sugar and thyroid. As women age, menopause causes drops in DHEA, estrogen and progesterone, causing “meno-bulge”. Using lifestyle and nutrition therapy can lower stress levels; assist in thyroid hormone conversion (to the active form); and manage blood sugar and insulin with diet, lifestyle and supplements. A hormonal specialist can prescribe hormone replacement therapy when indicated.

Weight management is not a “quick fix” for many. It takes functional medicine to discover the root cause of the problem and find the right solutions.