It’s no secret that everyone has been indulging in more food and some perhaps more wine than they should during this pandemic quarantine. In addition, there is a biological reaction associated with stress which also contributes to weight gain.
Allow me to break down the two different ways adrenaline can affect weight loss or gain:
Weight Loss:
Adrenaline can affect weight to go in either direction. This hormone can increase metabolism and give a person an increase in energy which can promote the burning of fat. Children diagnosed with ADHD are hyperactive and are usually on the thin side. Later on, in high school and college, they are often involved in sports and again, do not have weight issues. Professional athletes have excess adrenaline as do people designated as workaholics and Type A personalities. These groups will generally not have weight issues.
Children designated as having ADD will have trouble focusing, but compared to children that have ADHD they are not active. My own designation for children with ADD is that more appropriately they should be regarded as being creative-type ADHDs. In this situation, their hyperactivity is in the brain with adrenaline acting as a neurotransmitter.
The ‘creative’ brain requires more sugar than a ‘normal’ brain. As a result, the body will be continuously putting out more adrenaline to raise sugar levels.
Weight Gain:
People who have excess adrenaline but are not particularly active may experience problems with increased weight or may be constantly fighting to prevent weight increases.
This is how it works --adrenaline creates stress, and stress causes the release of cortisol. The first action of cortisol is to raise sugar levels which in turn causes the release of insulin.. So now there are two hormones raising sugar levels, both stimulating insulin release, leading to the creation of fat.
One can readily see that the scenario of excess adrenaline leading to an increase in sugar levels which then causes an increase in insulin levels which then pushes sugar into fat cells where the sugar is converted into fat can result in weight problems.
In addition, the thyroid hormone also comes into play. Thyroid is a stimulant as is adrenaline. People with excess adrenaline do not tolerate thyroid. Cortisol actually acts as an anti-thyroid hormone. So it is not unusual for people with excess adrenaline to also be low in thyroid.
When it comes to weight, hormones have an intimate relationship – whether it be insulin, adrenaline, cortisol, or thyroid. Failure to bring these hormones in balance can lead to a lifetime of frustration.
Dr. Michael E. Platt has been a pioneer in the research and advancement of the therapeutic use of progesterone cream for use in managing adrenaline and hormonal imbalance. Dr. Platt is considered an important pioneer in observational, functional, alternative, and allopathic medicine focused on bio-identical hormones and adrenaline overload. His three books “The Miracle of Bioidentical Hormones”, “Adrenaline Dominance” and “Platt Protocol” have received 11 literary awards.