Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — Obesity

Insulin resistance is a growing metabolic concern linked to type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Learn how to recognise the key symptoms, discover how dried blood spot testing offers a convenient at-home diagnostic option, and explore effective treatment strategies to restore insulin sensitivity.

Belly fat can result from a combination of genetics, poor diet, lack of exercise, hormonal changes, chronic stress, and underlying medical conditions such as PCOS or insulin resistance. Understanding the root cause is the first step to addressing it effectively.

When a patient with PCOS or weight issues is told “your blood sugar is normal,” the story is far from over. In this clinical article, Dr. Alison McAllister of ZRT Laboratory explains why insulin — not glucose — is the primary driver of PCOS symptoms, weight gain, testosterone and DHEAS excess, and cortisol dysfunction. Understanding the progression from insulin resistance to hyperinsulinemia to type 2 diabetes is essential for identifying and treating PCOS at the earliest possible stage.

Imbalances in estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and cortisol — brought on by ageing, diet and modern-day stress — are key drivers of the obesity epidemic. Learn how your hormones influence fat distribution and weight regulation, and how at-home hormone testing can help you take control.

The Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) — the 50% surge in cortisol that occurs in the first 30 minutes after waking — is one of the most sensitive markers of HPA axis health. Discover how CAR differs from the standard diurnal cortisol curve, which conditions are linked to blunted or exaggerated CAR, and how three timed morning saliva samples can reveal adrenal function in ways a single cortisol test cannot.