Weight Management Profile, Saliva and Blood Spot - ZRT Test Kit

The Weight Management Profile recognizes hormonal imbalances that lead to obesity, weight gain and difficulty losing or maintaining a healthy weight. The profile is also used as a screening tool and acts as a important early marker of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and diabetes risks.

Description

The Weight Management Profile helps to identify different imbalances in one or more hormones that lead to weight gain, sluggish metabolism, increased accumulation in body fat, and cravings for food/sugar. Facilitates correction of imbalances for proactive weight control and related risks for cardiometabolic disease and diabetes.

This profile includes Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEAs, Cortisol, TSH, Vitamin D2/D3, Insulin, and HbA1c.

This test is beneficial for women and men.  Below are considerations for each, respectively.

Consider for women with:

•  premenstrual weight gain and fluid retention

•  perimenopausal and/or menopausal weight gain in 

•  inability to lose / tendency to regain weight

•  PCOS

•  adrenal and thyroid dysfunction

•  breast cancer risk

Consider for men with: 

•  andropausal weight gain 

•  inability to lose / tendency to regain weight

•  adrenal and thyroid dysfunction

•  prostate cancer risks

Estradiol (E2)

Estradiol (E2) encourages a balanced distribution of fat in hips, thighs, breasts and subcutaneously at an acceptable physiological level in women. In abundance, however, even without progesterone, estrogen predisposes to unhealthy weight gain in these tissues. Men usually have much lower estradiol levels and higher testosterone, which is responsible for greater muscle mass and less fat distribution in areas of the body commonly seen in women. Testosterone levels decrease in overweight men and estrogens increase leading to the same problem of weight gain in hips, thighs, and breasts (referred to as gynecomastia) as seen in women.

Progesterone (Pg)

Besides its primary role in attenuating the effects of excess estrogen in the body by down-regulating estrogen receptors, progesterone (Pg) aids in weight control by acting as a natural diuretic. Its inherent calming effects in the brain can also reduce stress-related overeating and cravings for food. As an antagonist of the mineralocorticoid receptor, progesterone counteracts the mineralocorticoid activation effects, which include stimulation of fat cell development, increased body weight, and release of inflammatory cytokines. Excessive progesterone supplementation to higher than usual rates may, however, increase appetite and also delay the rate of food emptying from the stomach and passing through the digestive tract, resulting in slower digestion and bloating.

Testosterone (T) and DHEA-S (DS)

Testosterone (T) and DHEA-S (DS) are androgens that improve lean muscle mass and metabolism. When the androgen levels decline, muscle mass also decreases with a corresponding adiposity increase. Low androgens, too, can reduce exercise stamina and tolerance. Weight gain itself, with its resulting hormone imbalances, can cause a decrease in testosterone as the aromatase enzyme inside the fat tissue converts androgens into estrogens. For males, this leads to a distribution of female-type body fat including growth of breast tissue. High testosterone and DHEA are linked to insulin resistance and weight gain, especially in the abdomen, in females with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Cortisol (C)

Cortisol (C) imbalances can cause blood sugar regulation issues, sleep patterns, appetite, food cravings, and tolerance exercise. Excessive development of cortisol, especially in concert with insulin, promotes the storage of fat in abdominal adipose tissue under stress. This form of visceral fat is closely associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and is thus more dangerous to health. A known risk factor for pre-diabetes and cardiovascular disease is chronically elevated cortisol.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) elevations are related to hypothyroidism, low metabolic rate and obesity, even within the high-normal range. Hypothyroidism is related to elevated cortisol and may also be the consequence of oral estrogen therapy, which increases the development of binding proteins that improve bioavailability of the thyroid hormone.

Vitamin D (D2, D3)

Deficiency of vitamin D (D2, D3) is normal with obesity and is associated with hyperinsulinemia and visceral fat. The detection and correction of vitamin D3 deficiencies, whether by cause or effect, will boost insulin sensitivity.

Fasting Insulin (In)

Elevated insulin is a marker of insulin resistance, which normally comes before metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Increased levels, especially in conjunction with cortisol, lead to central obesity, and increased inflammatory and other cardiovascular disease markers. Hyperinsulinemia also leads to lower testosterone levels in men, but raises testosterone levels in women and reduces ovulation.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is an approximate indicator of the average levels of circulating glucose over the previous 3 months. A level of more than 6% is indicative of a risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.