Testosterone therapy in men with testosterone deficiency and differing grade of obesity produces marked and sustained reductions in waist circumference. In our study of 255 hypogonadal men, we noted 71% of men were obese and 14.1% had obesity grade III, using a testosterone cut-off of 12.1 nmol/l 23▪▪. Mulligan et al. reported that approximately 52.4% of all obese men had testosterone levels below 300 ng/dl (10.4 nmol/l). The prevalence of testosterone deficiency increases with comorbidities, such as insulin resistance and T2DM, obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) ranging from 30 to 50% 18–21. Thus, limited approaches to manage obesity are available except lifestyle changes, which produce moderate effects on weight loss and in most cases are unsustainable. Your customized treatment plan is designed for your body and lifestyle, with ongoing support from our medical team. Testosterone therapy does NOT directly cause hair loss. Let’s break it down clearly so you (and your patients) can feel confident about treatment decisions. He works in addiction medicine, so is very passionate about decreasing substance abuse, combating homelessness and improving mental health. Shiv Sudhakar, M.D., is an infectious disease specialist and health contributor to NBC News Health. In those cases, testosterone testing can help diagnose conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, adrenal disorders or rare tumors. By age 75, the average male testosterone level drops to about 65% of the average level seen in young adults, Portillo said. We suggest that testosterone therapy offers well tolerated and effective treatment of obesity in men with testosterone deficiency and this novel approach provides a unique opportunity to manage obese men. This, in part, explains the observed weight loss with testosterone therapy in men treated for long durations with appropriate testosterone formulations producing physiological levels 58▪▪–61▪▪,72. Testosterone regulates carbohydrates, proteins and fat metabolism 79,89 and testosterone therapy in men with testosterone deficiency results in normalization of glucose utilization and increased lipid oxidation . Fortunately, there are several ways you can naturally improve low testosterone levels. Other symptoms include fatigue, low mood and reduced muscle mass. Keep in mind that these studies examined the effects of replacement therapy in deficient men under medical supervision. Excessive muscle mass may be difficult to maintain in the long term and unused muscles tend to turn into fat over time. In fact, testosterone plays a valid role in the treatment of some medical conditions (18). Lack of GRH leads to lower levels of luteinizing hormone, which in turn reduces the production of testosterone (12, 13). That’s why it’s essential to understand whether your levels are low in the first place, and to explore safer, natural ways to bring them back into balance. But that doesn’t mean more testosterone is always better. Sometimes, the signs of low testosterone are subtle. Your metabolism is the system in your body that turns food into energy. Lower testosterone can also slow down your metabolism. So the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolism is, and the easier it is to burn calories throughout the day. Stress increases the production of cortisol, a stress hormone. Sufficient fats and carbs are also necessary for the normal production of testosterone. Clinical research shows that taking enough protein through food can help you burn fat and stimulate the production of testosterone. That is why you should eat a balanced diet so your body can get all the nutrients it needs to produce hormones. If you have subnormal plasma testosterone, you may be looking for ways to increase testosterone. The waist circumference of the first group decreased by around 13 cm, while the waist circumference of the control group increased by an average of 7 cm. Some men are born with it while others develop it later in life due to injuries to testicles, chemotherapy, metabolic disorders, etc. Low testosterone, also called male hypogonadism, has various causes. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. You must be over 38, have had your ovaries removed or have suffered with premature menopause to warrant further hormone tests. The implication of testosterone therapy in management of obesity in men with testosterone deficiency is of paramount clinical significance, as it produces sustained weight loss without recidivism. Long-term testosterone therapy in men with testosterone deficiency produces significant and sustained weight loss, marked reduction in waist circumference and BMI and improvement in body composition. The researchers only included men in the study, because they didn’t expect weight loss drugs to raise testosterone levels in women. Popular weight loss medications like Ozempic can help reverse low testosterone levels in men with obesity or Type 2 diabetes, according to new research. Testosterone therapy may make sense for women who have low testosterone levels and symptoms that might be due to testosterone deficiency. For starters, a healthy sex life is important in regulating your sex hormone and testosterone levels. In a 2021 study, zinc supplementation increased testosterone levels and improved sexual function in postmenopausal women with low blood levels of zinc.
