There is an interesting association between stress, smoking sex steroid hormones and weight management The sex steroid hormone called oestrogen is primarily responsible for reproductive function and women have higher levels compared with men.
Interestingly the function of this very important hormone is not restricted to reproduction only but is also critically involved in coordination of body composition and hence weight management, through its regulation of certain digestive enzymes. Additionally oestrogen is responsible for the peripheral distribution of fat in contrast to the central or abdominal deposition, which is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. It appears the sex steroid hormone interacts with other chemicals all working together to regulate body weight.
There appears to be a link between the intensity of exercise and the sex steroid hormones, and could be the reason why moderate intensity exercise is what is required to ensure weight loss as described elsewhere in this site. Rising sex steroid hormone concentration seems to be related to suppression of appetite and also redistribution of body fat, from abdominal areas to the hip/buttock thus decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Thus the normal function of the sex steroid hormones is critical for healthy living. Unfortunately in the presence of stress, there is an alteration in the way the sex steroid hormone works. The sex steroid hormones are blunted and all the benefits lost.
The cigarette smoke contains at least 400 different chemical one of which is nicotine. In the presence of nicotine, the sex steroid hormones are blunted and all benefits compromised. Consequently stressful situations in people’s lives as well as smoking are important issues which hamper successful weight loss.