Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Women & How It Affects Weight
You’re doing “everything right.” Eating clean. Moving your body. Saying no to late-night snacks. And yet—your jeans feel tighter, your energy’s on empty, and you’re wondering why the scale seems frozen in place.
It’s not laziness. It’s not willpower.
And it’s definitely not just your imagination.
For so many women, what feels like a “mystery” weight gain is actually a hormonal imbalance in disguise. The symptoms sneak in quietly—fatigue here, mood swings there—and before long, you’re living in a body that doesn’t feel like your own.
In case we haven’t met yet—we’re Dr. Erin Hendriks and Dr. Maricela Castillo MacKenzie, founders of Elle MD, a functional medicine and weight loss clinic based in Royal Oak, Michigan and we offer hormone replacement therapy. We help women uncover the root cause of their symptoms, rebalance their hormones, and finally feel like themselves again.
If you’ve been wondering whether your hormones are the reason your body isn’t responding the way it used to—you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about the signs, the science, and what your body’s been trying to tell you.
What is hormonal imbalance and how is it different in women vs men?
Hormonal imbalance happens when the delicate network of hormones in your body—estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, insulin, thyroid—becomes disrupted. But while both women and men experience hormone shifts, the female system is uniquely sensitive due to natural hormonal fluctuations tied to menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause.
For women, these imbalances often emerge as:
- Fatigue that no amount of sleep can fix
- Cycles that become irregular or overly heavy
- Mood swings that feel out of proportion
- Weight gain—especially in the belly area
Common causes include:
- Perimenopause & menopause: As estrogen and progesterone decline, the body can become more insulin resistant, prone to weight gain, and vulnerable to mood changes.
- Chronic stress: When cortisol is constantly elevated, it disrupts other hormones, driving cravings and fat storage (especially around the midsection).
- Thyroid dysfunction: An underactive thyroid slows metabolism, impacts energy, and makes it harder to lose weight.
- Insulin resistance: Elevated insulin levels signal the body to store more fat, even if you're eating well.
- Poor gut health: The gut plays a huge role in hormone detox—when it’s off, everything else is too.
Hormones don’t work in isolation. They’re an ecosystem—and when one is off, others follow.
Which hormones impact weight loss?
If your body’s been resisting your efforts to lose weight, there’s a good chance your hormones are playing a role. Here are the most common culprits:
Estrogen dominance
When estrogen is too high in relation to progesterone, it can lead to stubborn fat (especially around the hips and thighs), bloating, heavy periods, and mood swings. This imbalance also disrupts insulin sensitivity, making weight loss harder.
Insulin resistance
Insulin is the hormone responsible for helping your cells absorb glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream. But when your body becomes resistant to it, glucose stays in the blood—and gets stored as fat. This also drives cravings, fatigue after meals, and blood sugar crashes.
Thyroid dysfunction
The thyroid controls your metabolism. If it’s underactive (hypothyroidism), you might gain weight even with a modest calorie intake. Symptoms include cold hands/feet, thinning hair, and brain fog—all signs that your metabolism has slowed down.
All three of these hormone pathways influence one another—and unless they’re addressed together, weight loss will remain frustratingly out of reach.
Can hormonal imbalance cause fatigue, mood swings, and brain fog?
Fatigue, mood swings, brain fog, and cravings aren’t just random—they’re signs of a hormonal imbalance. If you feel emotionally off, constantly tired, or struggle with focus and emotional eating, your body may be asking for deeper support. At Elle MD, we see these not as flaws, but as important signals worth listening to and addressing with care.
How an unhealthy gut makes hormonal imbalance (and weight loss) worse
If your hormones are the orchestra, your gut is the conductor. When your gut health is off, your hormones go out of tune.
An unhealthy gut:
- Increases inflammation, which makes hormone receptors less responsive.
- Prevents proper estrogen detox, leading to estrogen dominance.
- Disrupts nutrient absorption, which your thyroid and adrenals need to function.
Many women we work with are shocked to learn that their weight, mood, and hormonal issues all start in the gut. But once we address it—everything begins to shift.
Our approach is rooted in gut-first, functional medicine care. Because until the gut is balanced, lasting hormonal healing simply isn’t possible.
Recognizing the signs: what hormonal imbalance actually feels like
You know your body better than anyone—but lately, something feels off. Maybe it’s the mood swings, the weight that won’t budge, or just feeling disconnected from yourself. Hormonal imbalance doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it whispers. And the sooner you listen, the sooner you can reclaim your health.
Hormonal imbalance female symptoms you shouldn’t ignore
Hormonal imbalances aren’t random—and they’re rarely just about age, perimenopause, or “bad genes.” We see it all the time: women doing all the “right” things and still feeling exhausted, puffy, or emotionally off. That’s because there are often deeper, hidden disruptors driving the imbalance behind the scenes.
Some of the most common include:
- Chronic stress – Elevates cortisol, which leads to belly fat, progesterone drops, thyroid issues, blood sugar crashes, and gut inflammation.
- Hormonal birth control – Suppresses natural rhythms and can affect mood, libido, and metabolism long after discontinuation.
- Toxin exposure – Everyday chemicals in plastics, skincare, and cleaning products mimic hormones and confuse your endocrine system.
- Blood sugar rollercoasters – Skipping meals or overdoing carbs causes insulin resistance—a major contributor to stubborn weight and fatigue.
- "Healthy" habits gone wrong – Under-eating, over-exercising, poor sleep, and constant productivity culture increase hormonal chaos instead of healing it.
Your body doesn’t just need discipline. It needs safety, softness, and support. When you address these deeper root causes, your hormones finally get the message: it’s safe to rebalance.
Other symptoms you shouldn't ignore:
- Belly fat that won’t go away
- Weight gain in hips, thighs, or lower belly
- Mood swings or irritability
- Irregular or heavier/lighter cycles
- PMS symptoms like bloating, acne, or breast tenderness
- Fatigue despite rest
- Low libido or vaginal dryness
- Evening cravings for sugar or salt
These symptoms aren’t “just part of being a woman”—they’re signs your body needs support.
How do I know if I have a hormonal imbalance?
Still gaining weight or feeling tired, even while doing everything “right”? If you’re eating well, exercising, even on hormone therapy—but your symptoms persist—it might be your hormones. Especially if:
- Your doctor says your labs are “normal,” but you don’t feel it
- Hormone meds haven’t helped
- You feel unseen or unheard in your care
This is your signal: it’s time to look deeper.
Signs it’s time to dig deeper (hint: it’s not just PMS)
Many women are told their symptoms are “just PMS” or “part of getting older.” But when those symptoms become chronic or start disrupting daily life, it’s time to take a closer look.
You may need deeper support if:
- PMS lasts more than a few days or feels overwhelming
- You feel stuck in survival mode most of the month
- Your cycle becomes irregular, longer, or disappears
- New symptoms appeared after stopping birth control or postpartum
- You feel unlike yourself, but can’t explain why
These aren’t isolated issues—they’re patterns your body is asking you to notice.
What to ask for in hormone testing (beyond the basic lab panels)
Most conventional panels only scratch the surface. Go deeper by asking for:
- A full thyroid panel (including free T3 and reverse T3)
- Free and total cortisol to assess stress response
- Fasting insulin and glucose for blood sugar insight
- DHEA and testosterone to evaluate energy and metabolism
- Estrogen detox pathways, not just levels
The right testing uncovers what your symptoms have been trying to say all along.
How functional medicine testing gives you the full picture
At Elle MD, we don’t guess—we test. Here’s how we use advanced lab work to uncover the true root causes:
- DUTCH testing: Measures not just hormone levels, but how your body metabolizes them. Crucial for understanding estrogen dominance, cortisol patterns, and more.
- GI-MAP testing: Identifies hidden gut imbalances like parasites, pathogens, or bacterial overgrowth that disrupt hormone detox and nutrient absorption.
- Metabolic and micronutrient panels: Show us where your cells are starved for support—especially if fatigue or inflammation is a key symptom.
This kind of testing tells the real story of your health—not just the surface symptoms.
How to Fix Hormonal Imbalance and Finally See Weight Loss Progress
What helps with female hormonal imbalance naturally
If you’re eating clean, moving your body, and still not seeing results—it’s not about trying harder. It’s about supporting your body differently. At Elle MD, we focus on gentle, root-cause tools like:
- Gut-healing to lower inflammation and improve hormone detox
- Key minerals like magnesium and zinc to restore balance
- Gentle liver detox support (no extreme cleanses required)
- Cycle syncing to align habits with your hormonal phases
These steps help you feel more energized, less reactive, and finally in sync with your body again.
Why anti-inflammatory foods and nervous system support matter more than calories
Hormonal healing isn’t about restriction—it’s about regulation. Inflammation and chronic stress tell your body it’s unsafe, triggering fat storage and burnout. Swapping intense workouts and strict diets for anti-inflammatory meals, blood sugar balance, and nervous system care helps your body release the weight—and the stress.
When to go beyond lifestyle and consider functional medicine help
If you’ve tried everything—clean eating, better sleep, even hormone therapy—and still feel off, it’s time for a deeper approach. Functional medicine goes beyond surface-level labs to uncover root causes like gut imbalances, cortisol issues, and inflammation.
We build custom protocols for women who’ve been dismissed or told “everything looks normal,” but still don’t feel like themselves.
Need a place to begin? Explore our blog:The best supplements to support women’s weight loss (backed by functional medicine).
If you’ve been dismissed, told your labs are “normal,” or feel like your body just isn’t responding the way it used to—it’s time to take a more personalized, root-cause approach. At Elle MD, we specialize in functional medicine and gut-first hormone care that looks beyond the surface.
Whether you’re already on hormone therapy or just starting your journey, we’re here to help you connect the dots and feel like yourself again.Explore our Hormone Replacement Therapy services to learn how we support women with real solutions—not just symptom management.Your hormones aren’t the problem. They’re the messengers. Let’s finally listen—and heal from the inside out.
*AI Disclosure:
This content may contain sections generated with AI with the purpose of providing you with condensed helpful and relevant content, however all personal opinions are 100% human made as well as the blog post structure, outline and key takeaways.
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*Blog Disclaimer: Please note that reading our blog does not replace any health or medical advice consultation. Read our blog disclaimer here.
Meet the Drs.
Dr. Hendriks and Dr. Castillo MacKenzie are board-certified physicians, female, specialized, with over 10 years of experience.
Elle MD started after practicing in a traditional primary care setting together for over a decade. We grew frustrated with the current healthcare model, which places no emphasis on addressing the root cause of chronic disease. A lot of times, conventional care doesn’t even promote overall wellness!
We founded Elle MD in Royal Oak, MI, with a vision of providing this care in a compassionate and personalized way.
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