By Mike Kocsis | 7 minutes read | Last updated: September 9, 2025 Categories: Testosterone
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Does testosterone really help lose weight? The short answer is yes.
Testosterone can help lose weight and maintain muscle mass but it’s not a magic solution on its own.
Studies show that testosterone can improve the number of calories you burn, boost metabolism, increase lean muscle mass and may keep you motivated for physical activities. All these things support weight loss in one way or another.
Also, low testosterone is associated with increased belly fat and metabolic dysfunction.
Some studies also indicate that having more fat tissue may actually lower testosterone levels, creating a two-way relationship where low T supports more fat and extra fat lowers testosterone even more.
Keep reading the article to understand what science says about the connection between fat loss and testosterone levels.
Does testosterone help you lose weight?
Yes, testosterone can help you lose weight by increasing the amount of calories you burn and improving lean body mass.
Testosterone encourages muscle growth and suppresses fat gain. When your muscles grow, they burn fat stored in them to acquire energy. It keeps your calorie level balanced between how many calories you consume and how many calories you burn.
When you are deficient in testosterone, your muscle mass reduces, and muscles start accumulating more fat. Some researchers also believe that a reduction in muscle mass is one of the main reasons why men gain weight.
Low testosterone and obesity: Can obesity reduce testosterone production?
Obesity and low testosterone are also linked to each other. Studies prove that the level of testosterone is 30% lower in obese men compared to men of normal weight.
More than 70% of obese men also suffer from male hypogonadism, also called testosterone deficiency. Losing weight may help them reverse testosterone deficiency.
The exact reason behind this connection between obesity and low testosterone is not known. But some experts believe it might be due to the higher levels of aromatase enzyme in obese men.
Belly fats produce this enzyme excessively. It transforms testosterone into estrogen, which is a female sex hormone. This might be the reason why obese men have more estrogen in their blood.
High estrogen and aromatase levels further prohibit the formation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GRH) by telling the brain that the body does not need testosterone anymore.
Low GRH means low luteinizing hormone. Lack of luteinizing hormone reduces the synthesis of testosterone (which is already being produced at a lower-than-normal rate) even more.
In short, we can say that belly fats suppress the synthesis of testosterone.
It starts a vicious cycle
Low testosterone sets a vicious cycle in the body. It reduces muscle growth and the rate of metabolism, which in turn increases the accumulation of body fat and contributes to obesity.
Excessive fats block testosterone production in the body, which further lowers its amount in the bloodstream.
Once this vicious cycle starts in the body, it becomes challenging to come out of it without increasing testosterone production.
Will taking testosterone help me lose weight or body fat?
Testosterone speeds up the rate of metabolism in muscle cells; as a result, fats burn, and muscles develop. It shows that increasing testosterone in men with testosterone deficiency may help them lose fat and grow muscles.
Let’s understand the role of increasing testosterone in decreasing fats with the study results.
Results of a scientific study
In research conducted by Bayer and Gulf Medical University, 11 years of data were used. Researchers divided participants (overweight men who had symptomatic testosterone deficiency) into two groups.
One group received an injection of 1000 mg of testosterone every 12 weeks, while the other group did not receive any testosterone and became the control group.
At the end of the research, researchers found that the group that received testosterone undecanoate injections had an average of 23 kg of clinically meaningful weight loss. On the other hand, the control group gained on average 6 kg.
Similarly, the body mass index (BMI) of the treatment group also decreased by around 7.6 points, and the BMI of the control group increased by 2 points.
The waist circumference of the first group decreased by around 13 cm, while the waist circumference of the control group increased by an average of 7 cm.
The first group also had less internal fat compared to the control group. It means they may have had a lower chance of developing cardiovascular disease compared to the other group.
More than 20% of participants in the non-treated group developed type 2 diabetes (insulin resistance) during the research, while men in the treatment group did not develop this disease.
Researchers concluded that the significant weight loss due to testosterone injections might have reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
This study shows that testosterone injections may have the potential to reduce fat mass and help with weight loss. Scientists need to conduct more research on this approach to understand its usefulness better.
Does losing weight increase testosterone?
If you have subnormal plasma testosterone, you may be looking for ways to increase testosterone.
One of the most effective natural ways of increasing testosterone is by losing weight if you are overweight or obese.
As explained above, fat cells discourage testosterone production so getting rid of them through diet, exercise or even bariatric surgery can be a good natural solution to low T for overweight men.
In addition to increasing testosterone, weight loss can cause many other positive effects on health.
Similarly, higher testosterone levels can improve your low T symptoms like erectile dysfunction, low sexual function, loss of muscle mass, etc.
Other ways to increase testosterone
Eat a balanced diet
Diet has a positive impact on hormone imbalance. That is why you should eat a balanced diet so your body can get all the nutrients it needs to produce hormones.
Clinical research shows that taking enough protein through food can help you burn fat and stimulate the production of testosterone. Sufficient fats and carbs are also necessary for the normal production of testosterone.
Make exercise a part of your lifestyle
Exercise is an effective way of improving your lifestyle and preventing several diseases. Interestingly, it can also help elevate your testosterone levels.
Several studies prove the benefits of exercise for boosting testosterone levels. One study conducted on obese patients concluded that increasing the level of physical activity may be more effective than a weight loss or low calorie diet for boosting levels of testosterone.
Avoid stressful situations
Stress increases the production of cortisol, a stress hormone. When your body keeps producing cortisol for a longer duration, it prioritises the synthesis of cortisol over testosterone. As a result, testosterone levels decline.
To prevent this, avoid stressful conditions if possible. Practice meditation to have a clear mind and release stress.
Sleep better at night
Getting plenty of sleep aids in increasing testosterone. One study found that people who slept only 5 hours at night noticed a 15% reduction in their testosterone levels. Another study observed that testosterone levels increase by 15% for every additional hour of sleep.
Some people work energetically even after sleeping 5 hours a day, but doctors still recommend people to sleep 7 to 9 hours a night to increase testosterone levels and enjoy long-term health. Low testosterone can cause night sweats and other problems, causing sleep issues.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for low T
Men suffering from low T find testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) very effective.
In TRT treatments, patients are supplemented with bioidentical testosterone with the help of injections, patches, pills, or gels. Your doctor will design a treatment plan based on how low your testosterone levels are.
Testosterone therapy can restore your serum testosterone levels, which will eventually help you reduce your level of body fat, improve muscle growth, have high energy levels, and enjoy better sleep at night.
Testosterone supplementation also has some side effects such as enlarged breasts, oily skin, high red blood cell count, etc. Therefore, discuss the pros and cons of TRT with your healthcare provider before choosing it.
Does TRT help with weight loss?
Testosterone treatment may help hypogonadal men lose body weight by restoring their testosterone levels, increasing muscle bulk and reducing fat mass.
Studies show long-term testosterone therapy can improve body composition and cause sustained weight loss.
As in a Reddit user’s words, “I’ve struggled with weight most of my life and ever since starting T, exercising and working out has been so much easier for me. I have more energy and strength now. It actually helped me lose weight.
Testosterone isn’t a magical hormone that will make you lose weight by taking it alone. You still have to participate in some kind of physical activity to take advantage of it.”
It is important to note that TRT is not a weight loss solution. It is prescribed only for low T or certain other health issues. And weight loss can be one of its many effects.
TRT should only be taken under medical supervision to bring total testosterone levels within the normal range.
FAQs about TRT and fat loss
Does testosterone make you gain weight?
No, testosterone produces no such effect. In fact, it can have the opposite effect. However, some men may experience weight gain in the beginning. It’s temporary and mostly happens due to water retention.
Does low testosterone cause weight gain?
Yes, low T can make you gain fat/weight by increasing body fat accumulation, reducing muscle mass and slowing metabolic rate. It may also drop your energy levels, making you fatigued and demotivated to even try to go to the gym or workout for a healthy weight.
Does testosterone burn fat?
Testosterone makes burning fat easier by increasing muscle bulk and strength and boosting motivation/energy levels to be more physically active.
Wrapping up
Testosterone metabolises your muscle fats to provide your muscles with the energy they need to develop. When you become testosterone-deficient, your muscle growth declines and body fats increase, which puts you at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
You can overcome this problem by restoring your testosterone levels through testosterone replacement therapy. This treatment will elevate your testosterone levels and reverse the effects of low T.
References
Okobi, O.E., Khoury, P., Raul, J., Figueroa, R.S., Desai, D., Mangiliman, B.D.A., Colon, O.L.V., Urruela-Barrios, R.J., Abdussalam, A.K., Diaz-Miret, M. and Borges, S.H., 2024. Impact of weight loss on testosterone levels: a review of BMI and testosterone. Cureus, 16(12).
Saad, F., Yassin, A., Doros, G. and Haider, A., 2016. Effects of long-term treatment with testosterone on weight and waist size in 411 hypogonadal men with obesity classes I-III: observational data from two registry studies. International journal of obesity, 40(1), pp.162-170.
Traish, A.M., 2014. Testosterone and weight loss: the evidence. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, 21(5), pp.313-322.
Evidence Based Research
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About the Author: Mike Kocsis
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and has helped thousands of people suffering from hormone imbalances recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
Last update: September 9th, 2025
