Is The Biggest Loser Missing the Key to Losing Weight?

Comments: 2 | May 5th, 2016

This week, ABC news reported that the Season 8 winner of The Biggest Loser, Danny Cahill, is having a hard time keeping the weight off after the competition. Danny lost 239 lbs on the show – an amazing accomplishment, which he spoke about at Dr. Hotze’s True Fat Loss Summit last year. His story was an inspiration. In the past few years since returning to his normal life, he has gained back over 100 pounds.

New Study on “The Biggest Loser” Contestants and Weight Gain after the Show
A new study published in the medical journal Obesity Biology and Integrated Physiology, followed 14 contestants of the “The Biggest Loser” TV show six years after they competed. They found that all but one (13 of 14 contestants) had regained a lot of weight after the show ended. The study found that among those who lost an extreme amount of weight, their metabolism slowed greatly and they had lower levels of a hormone called Leptin, which regulates hunger. They now have to work harder to keep the weight off than someone of the same size.

Out of the 14 contestants, 13 regained weight within 6 years and four are even heavier than they were before the competition began. Only one contestant sustained weight loss despite having a slower metabolism. Another contestant did experience improved metabolism, but this was as a result of weight-loss surgery after the show to reduce the size of his stomach.

Dr. Jennifer Ashton, who was interviewed along with Danny Cahill about this study, said that obesity should be treated as a chronic illness and that the gold standard in the world of obesity medicine is to recommend diet and exercise, then weight loss medication, and then bariatric surgery as a solution. Never was there any mention of the hormone connection to weight loss – a crucial component. Many people are suffering from needless weight gain and there are natural solutions to correct this.

The Missing Link: The Hormone-Weight Loss Connection
There is always a cause hidden behind every symptom, including weight gain, and you just need to find out what that is. Of course, if you are eating anything you want from donuts to hamburgers and fries and not making an effort to exercise at all, then it’s a no brainer. Your first step would be to make lifestyle changes to improve your eating habits and become more physically active. However, it’s not usually that simple. If you are doing everything right, including eating well and exercising, but are still gaining weight, then something else in your body is off. Often, it’s the hormone connection.

“At Hotze Health & Wellness Center,” we are not a weight loss clinic, but when men and women restore their hormones into balance, weight loss occurs naturally as a result.”

                                                                                                                    -Dr. Steven Hotze

Hypothyroidism – Hypothyroidism is a common cause of weight gain because it regulates your metabolism and energy production. With low thyroid function, your metabolism slows down, and you don’t generate as much heat or use as many calories. Excess fluid retention can often be attributed to the poor circulation caused by low thyroid function, as well. Be sure that your doctor evaluates you based on your symptoms, clinical history and basal body temperature, and does not rely only on a blood test. “Normal” lab test results often fail to properly diagnose hypothyroidism.

Low Testosterone in Men – Testosterone is helpful for weight loss because it helps maintain a healthy metabolism and improve energy. It helps to decrease body fat around the waist and also improves muscle mass, strength and tone, as well as increase stamina and endurance.

Progesterone Deficiency in Women – Progesterone deficiency leads to a condition called estrogen dominance which slows your metabolism and causes weight gain. Supplementing with bioidentical progesterone will balance the estrogen, thereby eliminating the estrogen dominance. Progesterone promotes the assimilation of the thyroid hormone into your cells, increasing your metabolism, and relieving fluid retention.

Other Reasons for Weight Gain
Unhealthy Diet and Inactive Lifestyle – As we already mentioned, it’s well known that fast food is not healthy for you and will easily add those extra pounds to your waistline. Fast food is high in fat, sugar and calories, as well as chemical preservatives. Regular physical activity will help you maintain your ideal body weight by burning off calories for energy. Set a goal to exercise several times a week. Great cardio workouts include walking, jogging, cycling, aerobics, basketball, tennis, dancing, and swimming.

Candida/Yeast Overgrowth – Candida, or yeast overgrowth, can cause bloating and weight gain. Yeast feeds on sugar and can overgrow in the large intestine, displacing the normal healthy bacteria of the gut. It is important to avoid sugar and do a candida-free diet to eliminate the yeast.

Chemicals and Toxins in the Body – Chemicals and toxins can throw our hormones out of balance leading to weight gain. They disrupt the hormones that regulate your metabolism. Toxins are everywhere in our food and environment and it is impossible to avoid them, so it is important to detoxify your body in order to stay healthy and maintain an ideal body weight.

Pharmaceutical Drugs – Many pharmaceutical drugs, such as antidepressants, can cause weight gain as a side effect.

Is hormone decline causing your weight gain?
You shouldn’t have to resort to daily, intense killer workouts, prescription drugs or surgery in order to maintain your ideal body weight. It shouldn’t be that hard, and hormonal balance will keep your metabolism in check and help your body regulate its weight. Find out if hormonal decline is the cause of your weight gain by taking our hormone quiz for women and men.