- Insulin controls sugar use; high levels promote fat storage and hinder fat burning
- Cortisol rises with stress and poor sleep, increasing hunger and sugar cravings
- Estrogen imbalance can cause water retention and stubborn fat storage
Weight loss advice often sounds straightforward until you actually try to follow it. What looks easy in theory can quickly become frustrating in practice, especially when results do not match the effort. This gap between expectation and reality is where most people start to feel stuck.
The truth is, your body is not just a calorie calculator. It is controlled by multiple systems working together. Hormones play a huge role in how your body stores fat, burns energy and manages hunger. If they are out of balance, weight loss can feel slow, stuck, or even impossible.
Nutritionist Nmami Agarwal has shared a simple explanation in an Instagram video. She highlights three key hormones that could be silently affecting your weight loss journey.
3 Hormones That Can Affect Weight Loss
1. Insulin
Insulin controls how your body handles sugar. When insulin levels stay high, your body shifts into fat storage mode. As the nutritionist explains, “When insulin levels stay high, the body stores more fat and struggles to burn it.” Even if your calorie intake looks right, high insulin can make fat loss harder.
2. Cortisol (Stress Hormone)
Cortisol rises when you are stressed or not sleeping well. Over time, this can increase hunger and cravings, especially for sugar. Nmami Agarwal points out that high cortisol can lead to “more appetite and sugar cravings,” making it harder to stay consistent with your diet.
3. Estrogen
Estrogen imbalance, whether too high or too low, can affect your weight. It can lead to water retention and stubborn fat storage. This often shows up as bloating or weight that does not move easily.
The Bigger Picture
Nmami Agarwal keeps it simple. Weight loss is not just about cutting calories. It is about understanding what is happening inside your body.
Her advice? Focus on the basics:
• Stabilise your blood sugar
• Manage stress daily
• Eat consistently and nourish your body.
When hormones are balanced, fat loss feels more natural and less forced.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
