The Summer Body Struggle

Summer is officially here. Have you been struggling to get that summer body? Extra inches in the midsection and diet and exercising just isn’t working. You’re not alone. There are many underlying treatable medical conditions that can be the cause and an evaluation with The Y Factor can help you determine why.

Having extra inches in the midsection is more than just a problem with appearance. It can affect your overall health. Obesity increases your risk for cardiovascular disease and can lead to heart attacks, strokes and more. (Meigs, 2022). Concomitant low testosterone usually is present, and is completely treatable. Treating low testosterone can increase muscle mass and decrease body fat (Tyagi, 2017). Some of the newest research indicates that addressing low testosterone in this patient population actually reduces their risk of heart attack and stroke.

Another cause of increased inches in your midsection is hypothyroidism. The thyroid is a gland located in your neck that secretes hormones that regulate your metabolism, your body’s rate of energy usage. Hypothyroidism, or low levels of thyroid hormone is “associated with decreased thermogenesis, decreased metabolic rate, and has also been shown to correlate with a higher body mass index (BMI) and a higher prevalence of obesity” (Sanyal, 2013).

Finally, sleep apnea can be a major contributing factor to obesity. Figure 1 below outlines how sleep apnea affects leptin, a hormone that regulates hunger. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases leptin and leptin resistance which leads to your body not feeling full causing you to eat more.

Sleep apnea can also decrease circulating testosterone levels and “Patients with OSA, particularly when it is moderate or severe and untreated, are at increased risk for systemic hypertension, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, and stroke.” (Kline, 2022)

Come in for a Summer Tune up at one of our six locations across the greater Houston area and get an evaluation by one of our specialists where we offer both natural and medicinal therapies to help you meet your goals.