Does HRT cause weight gain?
To the surprise of the doctors using a very high-tech way to measure fat, the women taking HRT (CEE/MPA/calcium) got slightly fatter (less lean body mass) than the women who weren’t taking HRT. It makes sense that HRT increases weight when you think about what hormones are for. Progesterone promotes fat synthesis and storage since this would contribute to successful pregnancy (it’s named for pregnancy–Pro=for: gest=gestation). It’s believed to increase appetite, to slow down how fast food moves through the intestines (so more calories get absorbed), and to decrease insulin sensitivity, which can elevate blood sugar so the fetus gets more food. Of course, this all happens at the very high levels of progesterone during pregnancy, not the levels of HRT. In the studies, progesterone in HRT has a moderate effect on weight, at most, probably when it converts to androgens (like testosterone). If the ratio of estrogen to progesterone is in balance, then it doesn’t increase appetite at all. Es
