Hormonal influence: - Endocrine glands are organs, which pour internal secretion into our blood. But for these glands, the growth of our body & mind becomes defective & results in various disorders & diseases, obesity being one of them. The glands produce some chemical substances, which are called hormones. Hormone is a circulating chemical substance that is capable of acting on distant organs from its original site. The glands that function in a unique way need a mention in this chapter because a few glands & other functions are responsible for causing obesity. These are the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pacers & gonads.

Hormones are the agents that that stirrup activity and bring about psychological changes in our behavior & bodily functions. Abnormal conditions of our health, is the direct result of an excess or deficient secretion of these hormones.

Overeating or Binge Eating: - Among the glands, the pituitary is the master gland that governs all other glands. It somewhat hangs from the hypothalamus which is at the base of the brain. It monitors the activities of the other glands to produce exactly the correct amount of their respective hormones.

Hypothalamus is a group of neurons that act as the centre for appetite, the stimulation of which results in the sensation of hunger. If there is an abnormal function of this appetite centre in the hypothalamus, obesity is caused due to overeating.

Obesity also results if the hormones that the pituitary gland secretes are deficient. One notable feature of this deficiency is along with causing obesity the height of the person gets retarded particularly in the case of growing children. Girls stay short and stout and the onset of menses is delayed or absent for a very long period. In cases where this gland is overactive and secret hormones in excess of what it should, the person grows to an abnormal size. This is known as gigantism.

The second gland that contributes obesity is the thyroid. This is situated in the neck. A deficiency in the hormones secreted by these gland results in the speedy division of cells. Such an increase in the number of cells cause obesity.

The third gland is the adrenals. These are two in number & are situated above the kidneys. The hormones that these glands, secrete, control our emotions anger, fear, etc. Excess secretion of these hormones, or when these hormones are administered in massive doses cause a severe disorder known, as Cushing's syndrome. This is also known by the name moon face. Any tumor or inflammation in this gland also causes Cushing's syndrome. The person so afflicted bloats to abnormal proportions & becomes the victim of various other disorders too, like hypertension & diabetes. The pancreas is a very important digestive organ that secretes the digestive pancreatic juice and an essential endocrine hormone the insulin. Insulin is very essential in sugar metabolism. The stored fat from the refined carbohydrates & sugar due to the abnormal sugar metabolism result in obesity.
In some cases, if the sex hormones secreted by the ovaries in females are deficient during menopause, obesity results. Administering hormones further adds to the bulk. So is the case after hysterectomy in some women.