Testosterone and Obesity

Clinical research suggests that men with Metabolic Syndrome suffer from lower testosterone levels. Although the main role of stored fat is energy and insulation, fat tissues also produce hormones such as leptin, estrogen, resisten and the cytokine TNFα. There is an inverse relationship between estrogen and testosterone.  Chronically elevated estrogen levels, lead to suppressed testosterone levels.  Therefore, high levels of adipose tissue have an estrogenic effect; in both men and women. In women, this can mean cancer risk, lower libido, autoimmunity etc.  While in men this can mean lower libido, and a gamete of chronic disease.

The problem is that metabolic syndrome is compounding, meaning the more fat you have the lower and lower your testosterone levels become.   Therefore, using Testosterone supplementation as a tool in both men and women can aid in regulating hormones and rebalancing of testosterone levels which will aid in body fat loss, improved insulin sensitivity through muscle (anabolic) and elevates the metabolism.  While the methods, doses and frequency of administration are still not perfectly clear, there are absolute improvements in fasting blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, cholesterol levels and triglyceride blood values.  Like anything, to much or too little is bad for the body, therefore monitoring of estrogen, DHT, cholesterol, hematocrit are crucial to optimization of hormone health. That being said, testosterone supplementation must be used in conjunction with health diet and exercise. In a study done by Mark Ng Tang Fui, Luke A. Prendergast, Philippe Dupuis, Manjri Raval, Boyd J. Strauss, Jeffrey D. Zajac, and Mathis Grossmann, titled, Effects of testosterone treatment on body fat and lean mass in obese men on a hypocaloric diet: a randomised controlled trial. It was observed that dieting men receiving placebo lost both fat and lean mass. In the men using testosterone supplementation, the weight loss was almost exclusively due to loss of body fat. It also appears to be safe for extended periods of use. Saad F, Yassin A, Doros G, Haider A, in their observation study, Effects of long-term treatment with testosterone on weight and waist size in 411 hypogonadal men with obesity classes I-III: observational data from two registry studies, they found, from two independent observational registries, of 411 obese hypogonadal men receiving TRT, for a maximum duration of 8 years, that testosterone therapy appears to be an effective approach to achieve sustained weight loss in obese hypogonadal men. The data suggest that Testosterone supplementation is safe and effective treatment strategy of obesity in hypogonadal men; and that testosterone is obviously a link in obesity.

‍In Strength, Coach Samson Jagoras

‍References:Kova et al. (2014) Testosterone supplementation therapy in the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Postgrad Med. 126(7): 149-156.

Retreived: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4942302

‍Mark Ng Tang Fui, Luke A. Prendergast, Philippe Dupuis, Manjri Raval, Boyd J. Strauss, Jeffrey D. Zajac, and Mathis Grossmann(2016) Effects of testosterone treatment on body fat and lean mass in obese men on a hypocaloric diet: a randomised controlled trial.

‍Retreived from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5054608/Saad F, Yassin A, Doros G, Haider A. (2016) Effects of long-term treatment with testosterone on weight and waist size in 411 hypogonadal men with obesity classes I-III: observational data from two registry studies. Retrieved: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26219417

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