Testosterone and weight-loss?

[Napalm]

What is the link between testosterone and weight loss, if there is one? Does being overwieght mean you have below average testosterone levels, or just high estrogen levels? Can you have high test and high est? Can you be overweight and have high test? Just confused about the whole issue, thanks.

Also, what is DHEA?

[.V.]

It can be a minor contributing factor. High estrogen can also contribute to fat storage. However, it isn't all there is to it. Even if test is low one can achieve better health and fitness, including fat loss. I've had the test level of a postmenopausal woman for a long time and lost from 300lbs at a very high body fat to 170lbs at a rather low one anyway with close attention to diet and exercise. Even managed to build a tiny bit of muscle in the process too. Adding weight is easier with therapy though.

Low test isn't as common as lots of us would like to believe though. If you think it may be a possibility, talk to your doc. If the symptoms are there, he or she will have you tested. The lab test costs about $150.00.

Can you be overweight with high test? Sure you can. I'm currently overweight at 205lbs with a currently "normal" test level. I'm supposed to weigh 170 so I'm 30lbs overweight according to the BMI. I'm not too fat though.

DHEA is Dehydroepiandrosterone, one of the testosterone related hormones in the body. Supplimenting with it hasn't been shown to be particularly useful except in very high dosages. I don't know how safe those high doses would be.

[Napalm]

is it a steroid?

[.V.]

It's a naturally produced steroid hormone in the body. Not a synthtic steroid like we think of drug users as injecting. Again, don't look for taking oral DHEA to do much of anything for you.

Sorry, there are no shortcuts. Just careful attention to diet and hard work.

[trainerty]

That's a pretty debatable subject. Increasing test output will increase recovery time and fat loss that much is known. Also when considering good "wieght lifter" type diet habits, you are taking food into your body to create chemical changes (i.e. more anabolism and anti-catabolisim).

Being overweight will not necessarily mean you have low test (like welch stated). However, the common bad cholesterol high levels in ratio to good cholesterol (test boosting) causes it to lower. I have seen a few articles talking about the typical american diet and high stress life leads to lower test. It's probably true.

[.V.]

Originally Posted by trainerty

It's probably true.

Probably?

I'd say it's very true. Notice the pansification of the American Male.