Many people assume that difficulties losing weight, picking up a few kilograms you can’t shake, and feeling tired, foggy, or constantly hungry are just part of getting older. It often isn’t. These symptoms may point to imbalances in the body, and early signs of more serious issues like insulin resistance or thyroid problems are sometimes dismissed altogether.
Dr Tommie Smook, Medical and Holistic Wellness Expert at Dr Smook and Partners, managed by RxME Group, says, “For most people, small weight changes during the year are normal, and losing a few kilograms usually only requires a healthy diet and regular exercise. But when the goal is significant weight loss, initial and follow-up blood tests are typically necessary, especially when a doctor’s plan includes stronger medical treatments like the GLP-1 medications prescribed by registered weight management clinics.”
The hidden factors that quietly affect your weight
He warns, “It’s easy to think you’re not losing weight because you’re not disciplined enough. However, biology often has a bigger say. Even mild disruptions in your metabolic or hormonal system can make weight loss far harder than it should be. Chronic stress, driven by elevated cortisol, can keep the body stuck in fight-or-flight mode and cause it to hold on to weight. The problem is that these disruptions rarely feel like medical issues at first.”
Dr Smook says this is more common than many people realise. For instance, around 1 in 4 adults worldwide has insulin resistance, which often forms part of metabolic syndrome. In these cases, doctors look beyond weight alone, paying attention to markers such as uric acid linked to gout, triglycerides in the lipogram, and the insulin–glucose ratio.
Because the body isn’t using the energy the way it should, weight becomes harder to manage, hunger feels stronger than it should, and even small treats seem to stick around for longer. It’s one of the most common reasons people feel like they’re doing everything right, but nothing is changing, and a simple blood test is a good way to spot it early.
“Hormones also have a major say in how your body handles weight. When leptin – the hormone that tells you that you’re full – isn’t working properly, you can eat well and still feel hungry. Moreover, years of stop-start dieting can push ghrelin, a.k.a. ‘the hunger hormone’, far higher than normal, which is why some people feel hungry all day no matter what they eat.
Women notice this sooner. Early perimenopause, PCOS, oestrogen dominance, or low progesterone can all shift how the body stores fat and make weight loss seem far harder than it used to. These changes aren’t always obvious from the outside, but simple blood work can show whether hormones are part of the problem.
Basic nutrient levels can also influence how easily the body processes weight. Low vitamin D, iron, or B12 can show up as constant fatigue, low mood, or feeling too tired to exercise, even when you’re trying your best. “It isn’t a motivation issue, but that your body simply doesn’t have the fuel it needs to function properly. Once these deficiencies are identified and corrected, people typically find that their energy improves and weight loss becomes far more manageable.”
Dr Smook recommends approaching the new year with more curiosity about what your body is trying to tell you. “A few tests can reveal issues that would otherwise go unnoticed, and the right guidance can turn what feels like a constant struggle into something controllable. Having that support beyond finding underlying metabolic issues and addressing them with the correct combination of nutrition, exercise, and medical intervention can be empowering, motivating you to keep going and finally attain your weight and health goals.”
