Hormones & Fatigue, Cravings, and Weight Gain: What You Haven’t Been Told
Hormones & Fatigue, Cravings, and Weight Gain: What You Haven’t Been Told
When it comes to hormone balance, most women think of estrogen and progesterone first—but there’s a bigger hormonal story playing out behind the scenes that influences everything from your appetite to your energy to how your body stores fat. Let’s explore three often-overlooked hormone disruptors that could be keeping you stuck—no matter how "healthy" you're trying to be.
Leptin: The Forgotten Satiety Hormone
Leptin is a hormone produced by your fat cells, and its main job is to signal to your brain: “I’m full, you can stop eating.”
Sounds pretty important, right? Yet many women (especially in perimenopause and menopause) are dealing with something called leptin resistance—where the brain no longer hears the message, even when leptin levels are high. This can lead to:
Constant cravings
Late-night snacking
Weight gain (especially around the midsection)
Energy crashes
Frustration with traditional dieting
Why does leptin resistance happen?
Chronic inflammation, high stress, insulin resistance, and poor sleep all disrupt the leptin feedback loop. If you’re trying to lose weight and nothing’s working, leptin resistance could be a root cause.
Leptin vs. Ghrelin: The Hormonal Hunger Games
Leptin works in balance with another hormone: ghrelin, often called the “hunger hormone.”
Ghrelin increases your appetite—telling your brain it’s time to eat.
Leptin decreases your appetite—telling your brain it’s time to stop.
When these two hormones are in balance, you naturally eat when hungry and stop when full. But chronic stress, poor sleep, and ultra-processed foods throw this delicate system off track.
In other words: You’re not broken or lacking willpower—your hunger hormones are just out of sync.
Xenoestrogens: Fake Estrogens from Your Environment
If you’re dealing with hormonal symptoms like:
Hot flashes
Weight gain
Irregular periods
Breast tenderness
Mood swings
…it’s worth looking beyond your own hormone production and examining what’s coming from the outside in.
Xenoestrogens are synthetic chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. They’re found in:
Plastic food containers and water bottles
Pesticide-treated produce
Non-organic dairy and meat
Personal care products (like lotion, makeup, and fragrance)
Household cleaners
These chemicals can overload your estrogen receptors and contribute to estrogen dominance, especially in women already going through hormonal changes in perimenopause and menopause.
Functional Tips to Support Hormonal Balance
Balance blood sugar to support leptin and ghrelin regulation
→ Eat protein with every meal, avoid skipping meals, and reduce sugar/refined carbs.Prioritize sleep
→ Just one night of poor sleep increases ghrelin and decreases leptin.Reduce exposure to xenoestrogens
→ Switch to glass or stainless steel, buy organic when possible, and use clean beauty/personal care products.Support liver detox
→ Your liver is responsible for processing and clearing excess estrogen and xenoestrogens. Eat cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and kale), stay hydrated, and consider gentle detox protocols under practitioner guidance.
Final Thoughts: Listen to the Hormones Beyond Estrogen
Yes, estrogen and progesterone matter—but they don’t act alone. Leptin, ghrelin, insulin, cortisol, and hidden disruptors in our environment are all part of the hormone symphony that keeps you feeling vibrant, strong, and in control of your body.
As a functional medicine provider, I specialize in helping women like you uncover what’s driving your hormonal symptoms—so you can finally get the answers (and relief) you deserve. At Vital Flow Functional Medicine, I offer personalized, root-cause care tailored to your unique biochemistry and life phase.
If you're tired of band-aid solutions and ready to get to the root, let’s work together to restore your hormone balance and reclaim your vitality.
Book no charge discovery call or learn more at Vital Flow Functional Medicine.