Have you been pounding the treadmill and snacking on celery to no avail?
If you are constantly committed to healthy living but can't seem to shed those pesky extra pounds, you could be suffering from a hidden health condition.
In 2009, Oprah Winfrey brought a condition called hypothyroidism to the public eye when she said an underactive thyroid gland has caused a lifelong battle with her weight.
But thyroid problems aren't the only condition that can make it difficult to beat the bulge.
Here are three hidden health problems that hinder weight loss:
1. Hormone or thyroid imbalance
If you can't seem to lose weight it's worth getting your thyroid and hormone levels tested.
Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by underactive thyroid function and it is very common, particularly in women.
Symptoms include feeling exhausted and stressed out, finding it difficult to lose weight and some may experience night sweats.
The thyroid gland is responsible for metabolism, body temperature, perspiration and part of your daily energy.
Therefore having a low-functioning thyroid will slow down your metabolism and prevent you from losing weight.
The thyroid is hugely influenced by stress, so the more demand you put on yourself the less likely you are to beat the bulge.
2. Testosterone decline
Testosterone is a hormone that is produced in the body. Although women do produce it, men have much higher levels and it's mainly produced by the testicles.
It's extremely important as it is the key male sex hormone. It's responsible for stimulating sperm production, controlling sex drive, building muscle and bone mass.
Without adequate testosterone, men become infertile. And although all men typically experience a decrease in testosterone as they age, there are some signs you should look out for.
Low testosterone levels can drastically increase stomach fat and can cause “gynecomastia”, a condition which causes men to develop man boobs.
Although the reasons behind this are not entirely clear, research suggests that testosterone influences the way your body stores fat.
3. Diabetes
Type-2 diabetes means the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don't react to insulin.
The hormone insulin – produced by the pancreas – is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood.
If diabetes is left untreated the glucose starts to build up in the blood instead of heading straight for the cells. If the blood sugar gets too high or too low, health complications arise.
People with type-2 diabetes, might also experience a sudden increase in appetite, particularly sweet cravings. This is because of the really high or really low blood sugar levels.
When your blood sugar levels dip, this sends the signal to the body that you need to eat something, which explains hunger pangs at any time of the day.
Obviously eating more sugary snacks will make you put on weight.
