Does Testosterone Help You Lose Weight?

Remember in your teens and 20s, when your metabolism seemed on fire, and no matter what you ate or did, you still sported a six-pack? Fast forward to today and it’s harder to muster the energy to get to the gym, let alone manage your growing waistline.

Studies show that men gain from .5 to 1 pounds per year as they age, moving into a higher BMI category by middle age.¹ A variety of factors contribute to midlife weight gain, including hormonal changes, slowing metabolism, reduced muscle mass, increased body fat, and lifestyle habits such as stress and an unhealthy diet. ²

While lots of things can make it harder to lose weight or maintain it with age, some men might be missing out on a secret weapon: testosterone for weight loss.

Does Testosterone Help You Lose Weight?

Testosterone replacement therapy can help men lose weight if low testosterone levels are a primary reason for their weight gain. A 2021 review and meta-analysis of 16 controlled trials found that obese men who were on TRT gained two kg of lean body mass (read: muscle), and helped reduce both waist circumference and body mass index.³

Long-term testosterone replacement therapy in obese men contributed to prolonged weight loss, with patients losing 20% of their baseline weight (about 50 pounds) on average, without added risk for mortality of heart issues.⁴

However, TRT generally isn’t prescribed solely for weight loss. According to the American Urological Association, TRT is typically used to treat symptoms related to erectile dysfunction, depressive symptoms, anemia, and bone mineral density. If any weight loss occurs on TRT, it’s a bonus related to relief from other symptoms.⁵

Testosterone, Weight Loss & Muscle Gain

Men with low testosterone are more likely to gain weight and experience belly fat. Testosterone helps regulate metabolism and body composition, and if you’re deficient, you’re likely to gain weight and experience fatigue.

For men diagnosed with hypogonadism (low testosterone), TRT can support weight loss and a healthier lifestyle.

TRT and fat loss

TRT can help men lose their belly fat. A 2015 review of 411 obese men with low testosterone found a reduction of 5-10 BMI points and 10-14 cm in waistline.

But why does restoring testosterone levels result in fat loss? Weight gain and low testosterone have a bidirectional relationship, meaning that low testosterone can cause weight gain—and excess fat—especially visceral, or belly, fat—can also cause low testosterone.

Visceral fat raises your risk of serious medical issues such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and even reduced cognitive function, according to a 2023 study published in The Lancet.⁶ What’s more, those extra fat cells don’t just sit there looking, well, fat. They actively secrete chemicals into your body, most notably an enzyme called aromatase, which converts testosterone into a type of estrogen.

“If your estrogen is too high, it acts on the pituitary gland—the one that controls your sex hormones and thyroid—and tells it to stop producing testosterone,” Foxx says. “This hormonal imbalance makes it even harder to lose weight. It’s a chicken and egg situation—are you overweight because you have low T, or do you have low T because you’re overweight?”

TRT and muscle gain

In a 2018 review, 411 men receiving intramuscular TRT experienced a 6% gain in lean muscle mass. TRT activates androgen receptors to trigger muscle growth, as well as increasing levels of IGF-1, a muscle-stimulating hormone.⁷ 

Two of the primary side effects for low testosterone are fatigue and sarcopenia—loss of muscle mass—both of which can lead to weight gain.

“If you lose muscle, you lose your ability to burn as many calories as you did before, because muscle is more active tissue than fat,” Foxx explains. “Low testosterone also decreases your drive to go out and do things such as working out, which also contributes to weight gain.”

Men with low testosterone levels might struggle with motivation or enthusiasm to address their symptoms. Fortunately, relief is available from the convenience of home with Hone’s online prescription for testosterone replacement therapy.

CAUSES OF WEIGHT GAIN

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How Long Does It Take to Lose Weight on TRT?

It takes about three months of TRT for weight loss, with most men seeing noticeable body-composition changes between 12–24 weeks as fat mass drops and lean muscle rises. 

In the first few weeks, testosterone replacement therapy improves energy, sleep, mood, and motivation, which makes it easier to train and stick to nutrition—key drivers of fat loss. Pair TRT with strength training, adequate protein, quality sleep, and consistent dosing, and expect to see changes in the mirror before you see them on the scale (muscle gain can offset pounds).

Progress typically continues through 6–12 months for most men.

Does Losing Weight Increase Testosterone Levels?

If you start to lose weight, your testosterone levels will also naturally begin to rise. Why? As body fat decreases, the amount of aromatase enzyme is reduced. This reduction leads to a higher testosterone-to-estrogen ratio, allowing testosterone levels to increase.

Better yet—many weight loss strategies, like resistance training, can also stimulate testosterone. That’s two health benefits for the same hour at the gym—not too shabby.

TRT and Weight Loss

Hone Patient Story

Back in his military days, at 33, Brian Yoshimura might never have considered testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) as a solve for weight loss, let alone dropping pounds at all. He was ripped and spry. “But 10 years later, at 43, I weighed 285 pounds, and my knees almost gave out just walking to my car,” he says.

Even though Yoshimura still exercised four to five days a week, he struggled to finish a 20-minute workout. “I had to chug energy drinks and coffee just to make it through the day,” he says. It wasn’t until he took a test through Hone that he discovered his testosterone levels were below where they should be for his age.

With help from TRT, Brian lost 50 pounds and 10 inches from his waistline. More importantly, he got back the energy from his younger days and regained his confidence.

Read Brian’s story

Testosterone and Lifestyle

Modern day habits are mostly to blame for low testosterone levels, and factors such as sedentary lifestyle, obesity, stress, poor sleep, and alcohol consumption have been shown to have a direct impact on the levels of testosterone in your body.^{8 9}

It’s important to note that TRT on its own isn’t a panacea. But when TRT is combined with exercise and other healthy habits, it can help testosterone-deficient men get back on track.

“It takes about three to four weeks of TRT to really feel the effects, at which point you’ll regain your motivation to exercise and go out and do things,” Foxx says. “As you exercise, your muscle mass will go up and your weight will go down, and most of all, your quality of life improves drastically.”

So are you a candidate for TRT? Get an at-home assessment and find out. You have nothing to lose (well, except your gut) and years to gain. “The human species is the only animal that outlives its reproductive years, but that is no reason to accept the condition you’re in if you can safely prevent it,” Foxx says. “You can absolutely be in your 70s and still be vital and alert and energetic.”

Yoshimura’s at-home assessment showed his levels were below the 300 ng/dL that the American Urologic Association says should be considered for treatment. “It came back at 224ng/dL, and I started TRT,” he says.

In one year, Yoshimura lost 50 pounds and 10 inches from his waist. “I feel like a completely different person,” he says.

Mentioned in This Article:

Testosterone

Testosterone provides the foundation for Hone’s testosterone replacement therapy plans, used to treat low testosterone levels and boost energy, strength, and libido. Available via injections, cream and dissolvable troches.

Learn More

Testosterone (Cream)

Testosterone provides the foundation for Hone’s testosterone replacement therapy plans, used to treat low testosterone levels and boost energy, strength, and libido. As an alternative to injection, testosterone cream can be applied externally.

Learn More

Testosterone (Troches)

Testosterone provides the foundation for Hone’s testosterone replacement therapy plans, used to treat low testosterone levels and boost energy, strength, and libido. Testosterone troches are taken orally as dissolvable tablets.

Learn More

About the author

Lara McGlashan has more than 25 years of experience as an editor and writer in the health and fitness space. She is the former brand director and editor-in-chief for Oxygen magazine, and currently serves as the editor-in-chief for Maui Nō Ka ‘Oi magazine.