Posts

Testosterone Therapy: Help For Men With Low T & Weight Issues

/in , , /by

Obesity is a problem for 70 million adults in the United States including 54 million men. But while we know that obesity raises our risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and more, for men it is also linked to hormone deficiency.

Bottom line: many men who are obese might also have low testosterone (T).

Looked at closely, it appears to be a case of the chicken and the egg. Testosterone deficiency causes men to gain fat and lose lean muscle mass. Insulin resistance caused by obesity lowers testosterone levels. As those two forces feed each other, the result is a man who is overweight and getting bigger, is unmotivated to lose the weight, and if he does try, has very little success.

If you know someone like this, testosterone pellet therapy could be the answer.

The numbers support this. A 2007 study of men ages 40 and up found that each one-point increase in BMI coincided with a 2% decrease in testosterone. A 2008 study of men ages 30 and up found that a four-inch increase in waist circumference increased a man’s odds of having low testosterone by 75%. Waist size was the strongest predictor of developing symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Australian research suggests that one in every seven obese men could benefit from testosterone replacement.1

By raising testosterone to proper levels with the help of pellets & SottoPelle’s bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, patients report signs that the vicious cycle of obesity and low T are lowered.

Fit mature man smiling while standing in a gym lifting heavy weights during a workout session

How can healthy levels of testosterone help men lose weight and keep it off?

  • Healthy testosterone levels help men build lean muscle mass
  • Healthy testosterone levels help men burn fat more effectively.
  • Healthy testosterone levels help improve mood and make men feel more motivated, competitive and excited about life in general.

It’s not just anecdotal, either. According to Endocrine News, a study presented at ENDO 2019 showed that long-term testosterone therapy in men with obesity and hypogonadism contributed to prolonged weight loss without added risks. In fact, losing the weight and being healthier as a result actually lowered their risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events.

Not only that, but even though patients in the study were always counseled on exercise and nutrition, it was only once they had begun testosterone therapy that they began to follow the recommendations and even ask for more!

It appears that testosterone replacement therapy knocked them out of the vicious cycle of low T and weight gain into a healthier feedback loop of weight loss, physical activity and motivation.

That’s great news! Here’s more:

Over the ten years of the study, the men who received testosterone lost over 20% of their baseline weight, their waist circumference dropped by almost five whole inches, and their BMI decreased by over seven kg/m2. The control group (who received no testosterone) gained in all three measurements.2

Now that you know the link between obesity and low testosterone, what can you do?

First you need to find out if low testosterone may be fueling your inability to lose weight and stay healthy.

Make an appointment with a SottoPelle practitioner to find out if you are a candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement and break the vicious cycle!

References:

  1. Harvard Health Publishing. “Obesity: Unhealthy and Unmanly.” Harvard Health, Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School, Mar. 2011, www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/obesity-unhealthy-and-unmanly.
  2. Bagley, Derek. “The Long Haul: Treating Men with Obesity with Testosterone.” Endocrine News: Endocrine Society, June 24, 2019, https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/the-long-haul-treating-men-with-obesity-with-testosterone/

Hormone Replacement Therapy – Are You Man Enough?

/in , , /by

As a man, sometimes seeking help for a problem can be overwhelmingly difficult. Men are taught and expected to be self-sufficient, strong, problem solvers. They are supposed to do the heavy lifting, to fix broken things, to be “the rock.”

They aren’t supposed to ask for directions. Or help.

They shouldn’t need a doctor. They shouldn’t need anybody.

But that’s not true.

Sometimes men do need help, and guys, if you are experiencing the symptoms of hormone imbalance due to low testosterone levels, this isn’t something you’re going to be able to fix on your own.

See, testosterone is the hormone that makes men men. Its why men have more muscle mass than women. It’s important for bone health and strength. As a sex hormone, it’s responsible for sperm production and plays a major role in libido.

And while it may get a bad rap, being accused of making men violent, aggressive, Type A or sexually promiscuous, this is simply untrue. Sensitive guys don’t have lower levels of testosterone than their macho buddies. In fact, all men need the right amount of testosterone to look and feel their best.

As men age, a gradual reduction in testosterone naturally occurs, about 1% to 2% each year with a more dramatic drop-off happening after age 45. If levels become too low, however, unpleasant symptoms can begin to manifest.

Senior man exercising at gym.

Some signs you may have low testosterone include:

  • Loss of body and facial hair
  • Inability to build and keep muscle mass
  • Low libido
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Increased breast size (gynecomastia)
  • Brittle bones/bone fractures
  • Dry skin
  • Diabetes
  • Anxiety
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Poor concentration
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Depression

Low testosterone levels may also increase your cardiovascular risk and levels of bad cholesterol.

The good news is there is a safe, effective treatment for hormone imbalance in men available in the form of SottoPelle pellet therapy!

Through simple blood testing, your testosterone levels are assessed, and our doctors can recommend the right amount of testosterone for your needs. Unlike the gels or injections, you might get at your general practitioner’s office, SottoPelle’s therapy consists of tiny implants compounded from natural, bioidentical testosterone that is indistinguishable from the testosterone your body itself makes. Not only that, but the pellets are tailor-made to fit your specific needs– something you won’t get from synthetic gels or injections.

Our male patients are surprised how much more vital and balanced they feel when their hormone levels are where they should be (you can see some of their testimonials here). They feel strong and energized again. Their sex life is back to where they want it to be. They feel more clear-headed, less anxious, with an improved mood. In short, they feel like the men they want to be again.

And so can you.

Take the plunge and call a SottoPelle practitioner in your area today.

Andropause and Aging Athletes 

/in , /by

 When it comes to aging, most people know about menopause in women. Yet, many have never heard of andropause in men. Andropause is the phase men go through when there is a decrease in the production of testosterone. During this time, men experience bodily changes similar to what women experience. Sex drive is one of the first noted complaints, as well as fatigue, depression, weight changes and general health begins to decline. Illness like heart disease and brittle bones are also signs of andropause in men. 

Male athletes that have worked hard to keep their bodies in shape often find that during andropause, using bio identical hormone therapy can help to prevent medical issues associated with aging.  

 For male athletes that want to increase their testosterone levels naturally, the best line of defense is, and always has been, through a committed exercise program. Exercise, especially when maintained actively can increase testosterone and help men to continue building strength to help with aging bones and muscles naturally.  

An issue that many men facing andropause have included in their battle against aging has been incorporating the use of steroid drugs and synthetics into their system. Not only are these drugs dangerous, but over time they effectively tend to break down the composition of muscles, thus reducing the strength that andropausal men are trying to maintain. 

 Having a diet rich in leafy green vegetables is suggested to help maintain muscle agility and strength. Leafy green vegetables also provide antioxidants and fuel needed for maintaining a strong exercise regimen. As a matter of fact, leafy green vegetables are the primary ingredient in many anti-aging pharmaceuticals because of their natural ability to fight the signs of aging in both men as well as women.  

 Herbal remedies and vitamins like vitamin C and E are exceptional for athletes as they have been shown to reduce post-exercise muscle fatigue and soreness, especially in men that are susceptible to andropause. Aging athletes that try to use performance enhancing drugs (PED’s) often find that they begin feeling the very bodily stresses that they were trying to prevent in the first place.  

Sure, they may lose weight fast or build some muscle mass faster than they would through traditional ways, but those build-ups don’t tend to be long lasting and their health and well-being could end up suffering in the long-run.