Testosterone hormone plays a significant role in body composition regulation, and reduction in its levels has been linked to an increment in body fats and consequent decrement in lean muscle mass [4-6,10-14]. The study summarizes that low testosterone is associated with increased adiposity and loss of lean mass rather than underweight or overall weight loss.

Low testosterone levels promote higher fat mass with reduced lean mass.[8] An increase in adipose tissue has been observed in patients with hypogonadism.[8] Patients in testosterone replacement therapy have shown a reduction in abdominal circumference and adipose tissue, together with an increase in muscle mass.[8]

Long-term testosterone treatment of hypogonadal men, up to 5 years duration, produced marked and significant decrease in body weight, waist circumference and body mass index.[6] All parameters examined were statistically significant vs. baseline…indicating a continuous weight loss over the full observation period.[6] The data obtained from this uncontrolled, observational, registry study suggest that raising serum T to normal physiological levels in hypogonadal men produces consistent loss in body weight, waist circumference and BMI.[6]

Low testosterone levels are associated with increased fat mass (particularly central adiposity) and reduced lean mass in males. These morphological features are linked to metabolic dysfunction, and testosterone deficiency is associated with energy imbalance, impaired glucose control, reduced insulin sensitivity and dyslipidaemia. A bidirectional relationship between testosterone and obesity underpins this association indicated by the hypogonadal-obesity cycle and evidence weight loss can lead to increased testosterone levels.

Data reported from three registries, in which long-term testosterone therapy was evaluated in men with testosterone deficiency and varying grades of obesity, suggested that testosterone therapy is effective in producing weight loss in all three grades of obesity. Testosterone therapy is associated with weight loss and obesity is associated with reduced testosterone levels. Thus, in obese men with testosterone deficiency, long-term testosterone therapy produced significant and sustained weight loss, concomitant with reduction in waist circumference and BMI.

It is generally accepted that hypogonadism secondary to obesity is functional since it is reversible following weight loss.[2] Weight loss, however obtained…reverses functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism secondary to obesity to eugonadism and induces an increase in both total testosterone and free testosterone.[2] Available studies emphasize the key role of lifestyle interventions as the first-line treatment to achieve improvements in body weight and secondary hypogonadism.[2]

There is a bidirectional relationship between obesity and hypogonadism. In population-based studies, obesity is the single most important factor resulting in testosterone deficiency. Similarly, testosterone deficiency can cause increased adipogenesis and visceral obesity as evidenced by rapid weight gain observed in men following androgen deprivation therapy or surgical castration. Weight loss associated with testosterone replacement therapy was almost exclusively due to loss of fat mass, whereas the weight loss due to dieting is from loss of both fat mass and lean mass.

Long-term testosterone replacement therapy up to 5 years has been shown to produce progressive and sustainable weight loss in hypogonadal men.[11] Testosterone therapy appears to be an effective approach to achieve sustained weight loss in obese hypogonadal men irrespective of severity of obesity.[11] Testosterone therapy in men with testosterone deficiency reduces fat mass, increases lean body mass with concomitant weight loss, reduction in waist circumference and body mass index.[11]

Although this relationship is likely bidirectional, by far the strongest relationship is via the effect of obesity on circulating testosterone levels, with much smaller effects of low testosterone on increasing adiposity. The review emphasizes that obesity lowers testosterone more than low testosterone increases body fat, and does not describe low testosterone as a cause of being underweight.

Low testosterone can cause one or more of the following symptoms in females: sluggishness, muscle weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, reduced sex drive, decreased sexual satisfaction, **weight gain**, fertility issues, irregular menstrual cycles, vaginal dryness, loss of bone density.[4] The article lists weight gain rather than weight loss or being underweight as a symptom associated with low testosterone in women.[4]

Low testosterone in women is associated with **increased visceral fat** — the metabolically active fat that surrounds the abdominal organs — which is both more metabolically harmful and less responsive to traditional diet and exercise interventions than subcutaneous fat.[2] When testosterone levels decline, several processes converge to **promote fat accumulation**.[2]

Long-term testosterone therapy can help men with hypogonadism lose weight and maintain their weight loss, researchers from Germany and the United States report.[4] Men with hypogonadism and obesity receiving long-term testosterone therapy achieved progressive and sustained weight loss, while untreated controls gained.[4] Over 10 years, the testosterone-treated men lost 20.3 percent of their baseline weight; their waist circumference dropped by 12.5 cm.[4]

Low testosterone levels in either men or women, can have negative effects on health such as depression, low sex drive, and **obesity**.[6] When testosterone levels decrease, both men and women are subject to **weight gain** and the health risks that accompany that gain.[6]

Low testosterone in women directly causes **weight loss resistance, decreased energy, mood changes, hair loss, and reduced sex drive**.[7] The author notes an "inability to lose weight or **increased weight gain** (especially without a change to your diet)" as a symptom of low testosterone in women.[7]

In randomized controlled clinical trials, testosterone treatment does not reduce body weight, but modestly reduces fat mass and increases muscle mass.[12] The magnitude of changes in body composition during testosterone treatment is modest and varies among studies.[12] These data suggest that while testosterone may alter fat and lean mass, it is not a primary weight-loss therapy.[12]

Low serum total testosterone predicts the development of central obesity and accumulation of intra-abdominal fat. It is well known that testosterone replacement reduces body fat mass and waist circumference in hypogonadal men with and without obesity.

These data show that weight loss is associated with an increase in both bound and unbound testosterone levels.[14] Body weight loss reverses obesity-associated functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.[14] Testosterone levels increased in parallel with the degree of weight loss achieved.[14]

Testosterone promotes muscle growth. At the same time, it may suppress fat gain. As a result, some testosterone-deficient men tend to gain fat more easily than their healthy peers. Summary: Low testosterone levels reduce muscle mass and calorie expenditure. For this reason, deficiency may promote weight gain over time. There is some evidence that replacement therapy can lead to weight loss in obese patients with testosterone deficiency. There is no evidence that replacement therapy causes weight loss in healthy men with normal testosterone levels.

For women, low T can make it challenging to **maintain a healthy weight**. Testosterone helps regulate fat distribution and muscle strength. Hence, its low levels can lead to **increased body fat and loss of muscle mass** (which makes it harder to lose weight).[10] The page explicitly states: "Yes, low testosterone can cause **weight gain** in women by causing fat accumulation and reducing muscle mass."[10]

The Cleveland Clinic lists common signs of low testosterone in women such as low sex drive, lack of energy, **loss of strength and muscle tone**, infertility, irregular menstrual cycle, vaginal dryness, depression or anxiety, thinning hair, dry brittle skin, and trouble sleeping.[3] The symptom list does **not** include weight loss or being underweight; instead, muscle loss and low energy are emphasized.[3]

We found an association between premenopausal free testosterone levels and being **overweight**, as well as with depression.[12] In this study, higher free testosterone levels were linked to overweight status, suggesting that altered testosterone is related to **increased**, not decreased, body weight in the women studied.[12]

When testosterone levels are low, a man might lose some muscle and gain extra fat, especially around the belly. This change in body makeup can lead to weight gain over time.

Low testosterone by itself leads to increasing adiposity, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of metabolic complications. The article describes mechanisms whereby reduced androgen action increases fat mass and contributes to obesity-related morbidity, rather than causing underweight.

If testosterone levels drop, many women will **lose muscle mass** that helps support a healthy metabolism and lean body mass.[13] As testosterone levels begin to plummet at middle age, both men and women can experience undesirable **weight gain or muscle loss**, which might not tip the scales upward, but it certainly can change the body’s shape.[13] The context is that low testosterone can result in weight gain or altered body composition, rather than causing underweight.[13]

A quick answer: Not directly, but being low in testosterone may hinder your goals for lowering your body weight. Lower-than-normal testosterone levels can be associated with less lean muscle mass and more body fat storage, particularly around the abdomen.

Testosterone is one of the male sex hormones and it can have a significant impact on fat loss. Low testosterone can alter body composition to decrease lean muscle mass and increase body fat. Summary: Low testosterone may make fat loss more difficult, but it won’t stall it entirely. The discussion focuses on increased body fat and difficulty losing weight rather than underweight status.

Low testosterone levels may lead to an increase in body fat mass. Testosterone levels naturally decrease as you get older, but other conditions or circumstances may also cause low testosterone.

Low testosterone is more than a drop in hormone levels. It can deeply affect mood, energy, sexual function, and, yes, weight changes. Low testosterone can be the cause of weight gain. The article answers: Can low testosterone cause weight gain? As we discussed in this article, the answer is yes.

Many women experience a vicious cycle of progressive **weight gain** (possibly leading to obesity) as a symptom of low testosterone.[8] Low T in women is described with signs such as weight gain or difficulty losing weight and loss of muscle mass.[8]

Low testosterone (or low T) could be the underlying cause. When testosterone levels drop, the body's ability to regulate fat storage becomes compromised. This can lead to an increase in body fat and a drop in muscle mass.

To understand this, it helps to think of testosterone as a kind of "metabolism helper." It makes your body more efficient at turning food into energy and using that energy to build lean muscle instead of storing it as fat. When testosterone levels are low, your body starts losing that valuable muscle and may replace it with fat—especially around the belly area. This is why people with low testosterone often notice that they’re gaining weight even if their habits haven’t changed much.

Low testosterone in women can show up as: trouble losing weight, fatigue, depression or anxiety. The content suggests that in women, low testosterone may be associated with difficulty losing weight, not underweight or abnormally low body weight.

Excess body fat can directly lower testosterone levels in men and disrupt key hormones in women. Can obesity cause low testosterone? Yes—and it commonly does. But in many cases, this hormonal disruption is reversible. The focus is on obesity leading to low testosterone, not low testosterone causing underweight.

Low testosterone levels in women can cause many symptoms and side effects, including loss of energy, decreasing muscle mass, **weight gain**, and even heart disease.[11] The article explains that low levels of testosterone in women can contribute to **weight gain** by decreasing muscle mass and slowing metabolism, making it more difficult to lose weight.[11]

Studies show that losing weight can improve hormone balance, mainly for those with obesity-related hypogonadism.[13] In many cases, lifestyle changes and weight reduction are enough to normalize testosterone levels without additional hormone therapy.[13] This reflects the functional nature of hypogonadism linked to excess weight rather than low body weight.[13]