Testosterone And Weight Loss: Are They Connected?

Does Testosterone Make You Lose Weight?

Scientific Evidence Linking Testosterone to Weight Loss

Testosterone is a steroid hormone primarily produced by the testes in those assigned male at birth (AMAB). Testosterone’s biochemical functions in the body are responsible for sex-hormone dependent processes such as growth and development and even brain function.

Moreover, testosterone is key to bone and muscle development as well as metabolism balance, especially in those AMAB.

In addition to its well known biological functions; testosterone has been linked to major effects in weight loss in individuals AMAB. Research has found increased rates of obesity in those with testosterone deficiency, suggesting a correlation between lowered testosterone and increased weight.

Later scientific studies show that in groups of testosterone deficient men, restoring testosterone levels aided in weight loss, indicating testosterone’s possible role in weight management.

How Testosterone Influences Fat Distribution

Research shows that testosterone has a bigger impact on body composition beyond overall weight loss. Testosterone is responsible for the development of muscle mass, bone development, and physical strength. Additionally, testosterone deficiency is seen to decrease all three while increasing fat mass.

Multiple studies show that in different groups of individuals AMAB testosterone can increase muscle mass, lean mass, and decrease fat mass. These studies also identify the correlation between low testosterone and low amounts of lean body mass. Thus, testosterone has been scientifically tied to healthy body composition in those AMAB, which may be through the support of muscle and lean mass production.

Does Testosterone Reduce Belly Fat?

Does Testosterone Speed Up Metabolism?

Understanding Metabolism and Its Role in Weight Management

To better understand the fundamentals of how our metabolism impacts our weight and its management requires us to discuss what our metabolism is and how it works. Our metabolism refers to the many different biological and chemical reactions that take place to break down and build up the molecules of our body. These reactions and processes include protein production, carbohydrate breakdown, and cell repair, all of which rely on our metabolism to regulate the conversion of food and oxygen into energy.

Our metabolism and its processes are constant; this means your body has a base rate of converting calories into energy. This rate is also known as your basal metabolic rate, and it is the amount of calories your body needs to maintain all functions at complete rest. When a metabolism is not impacted by chronic illnesses or disorders, your basal metabolic rate can help you create a weight management plan.

In order to maintain your weight, you have to eat the same amount of calories burned by your basal metabolic rate and any additional daily physical activity. Losing or gaining weight would require eating less or more calories than your basal metabolic rate and any additional daily physical activity expended.

Testosterone’s Effect on Metabolic Rate

Prior research suggested there is not a direct link between testosterone and basal metabolic rate in individuals AMAB. However, there is a wealth of modern research showing testosterone’s effects on factors that impact our metabolism.

For example, testosterone has been shown to increase muscle mass, and muscle requires more calories to maintain than fat, which ‘speeds up’ a metabolism. Moreover, studies highlight testosterone as a key player with mechanisms that stimulate carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. While the pathways are still being uncovered, restoring testosterone is also seen to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and as a result reduce blood sugar levels. All of these metabolic processes have been linked to testosterone which shows testosterone’s indirect effect on our metabolism.

Combining Testosterone Therapy with Lifestyle Changes

It is not always easy to make noticeable changes to your metabolism. You may need a health plan that combines different styles of treatment to address any metabolic issues you’re experiencing. Lifestyle changes such as making better nutritional choices, increasing daily physical activity, and reducing alcohol intake are all possible steps to healthy, sustainable habits.

Additionally, testosterone has been shown to aid in many processes important to metabolic function. Developing a plan with a trusted physician may include the combination of lifestyle changes with testosterone therapy to support your weight management goals.

What Happens When a Man’s Testosterone is Low?

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Low testosterone is frequently accompanied by a large variety of symptoms due to testosterone’s importance, especially in those AMAB. The following are signs that may indicate lowered testosterone levels:

Impact on Weight and Health

Increased fat mass and obesity is a common symptom associated with testosterone. Because testosterone is responsible for stimulating both muscle growth and lean mass, the lack of testosterone can instead lead to an increase in fat mass. While this can significantly impact quality of life; testosterone deficiency can have serious health implications apart from weight gain.

Testosterone deficiency is a serious condition with potentially life threatening impacts due to the importance of testosterone in multiple bodily processes. A multitude of studies have examined testosterone’s impact on cardiovascular health and chronic illness. The consensus of findings is that lowered testosterone levels increase the risk of severe conditions such as high cholesterol, heart attack, diabetes, and stroke. Testosterone’s impact on weight, health and the heart is abundantly clear – a healthy body requires testosterone.

Treatment Options for Low Testosterone

Whether you have been diagnosed with testosterone deficiency or are experiencing the symptoms associated with it, there are ways to treat low testosterone. Testosterone therapy treatment options commonly involve replacing the body’s testosterone through administering a synthetic version of the hormone.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is both a well known and well researched treatment for those dealing with testosterone deficiency. Despite it being a popular option, it is not your only choice.

Testosterone Therapy and Weight Loss

Types of Testosterone Therapy

Types of testosterone administration are varied and commonly include injections every couple of months. Pills or any oral form of testosterone medication can cause problems with liver function, and as such, are mainly avoided to treat low testosterone levels.

Other types of testosterone replacement therapy such as patches, topical gels, and implants are also available options. Accessibility and cost will depend on a combination of factors, not limited to, location, insurance coverage, and dosage.

Benefits and Risks of Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone replacement therapy, like any hormonal treatment, has both risks and benefits. It is important to talk with a doctor and ensure you have an informed understanding of the potential outcomes of any medication or treatment plan.

Testosterone therapy has been seen to be beneficial for those with low testosterone experiencing muscle loss, decreased strength, low energy and low libido. Individuals AMAB treated with TRT have lowered cardiovascular risk and successful long term weight loss.

However, TRT is far from a one size fits all medication, especially with its impact on cardiac hypertrophy and fertility. Increased testosterone levels have been found to result in thickening of the heart’s wall through its muscle cells, leading to myocardial hypertrophy. Testosterone is also thoroughly researched as a contraceptive in individuals AMAB due to its impact on fertility through decrease in testes’ size and sperm efficacy.¹ These factors should be taken into consideration for those at risk for health complications connected to elevated testosterone levels.

Combining Testosterone Boosters with Fat Burners

Conclusion

Weight loss can be a complex issue that must take many factors into account to be addressed properly. These can include prior medical history, your metabolism, and lifestyle choices. There is substantial research that shows testosterone has benefits such as inhibiting fat production and increasing muscle mass. Moreover, studies find lean mass, body composition, and metabolic function are all positively impacted through testosterone.

Having low testosterone can come with many serious health complications in addition to being connected to higher rates of obesity. If you’re looking to address testosterone deficiency, it’s important to know there are both natural and medicinal ways to boost testosterone levels. Combining the use of fat burners with restoring testosterone may offer a multilayered health plan for those looking to lose weight.

Considering the close relationship between low testosterone and obesity, you should monitor your health closely if you’re experiencing either. Testosterone deficiency can be an added barrier to weight loss along with carrying its own severe health risks. Regardless of where you are in developing a health plan you should consult with a trusted healthcare provider to get personalized advice. Understanding the connection between testosterone and weight loss can help you decide the best steps to take toward a healthier you.

FAQs About Testosterone and Weight Loss