A large Czech study found that thyroid and adrenal hormones are associated with body fat levels and BMI. A weak association was found between body composition, fat distribution and the hormones of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid-adrenal axis (HPTA).

Higher thyroid hormone levels were associated with improved fat distribution and lower BMI in women. The associations were not as strong for men, but fat distribution was improved.

The researchers also found no significant relationship between the adrenal hormone DHEA and obesity and fat distribution. They actually reported that DHEA had a slightly negative affect on insulin sensitivity…. after adjusting for other factors including age.

PMID: 18271684, 18271690