Stuck With an Autoimmune Disease
The Link Between Autoimmune Conditions & Weight Loss Resistance After 40
If you’re a woman over 40 and feel like your metabolism has hit a wall despite clean eating, working out, and doing all the “right” things, there may be something deeper going on.
For many women we see at NuBloom, the culprit isn’t just age or hormones.
It’s autoimmunity; and it often goes undiagnosed for years.
Let’s break down what’s happening, and how to finally work with your body again.
What Is Autoimmunity?
Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own tissues – like your thyroid, joints, skin, or gut – thinking they’re invaders.
Common autoimmune conditions that affect women over 40 include:
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (underactive thyroid)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriasis
- Celiac disease
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
Autoimmunity often brings fatigue, inflammation, bloating, joint pain, brain fog, and – most frustratingly – weight gain that doesn’t respond to normal efforts.
Why Autoimmune Conditions Make Weight Loss Harder
- Inflammation hijacks your metabolism
Autoimmunity creates chronic inflammation, which tells your body to slow down energy usage and hold onto fat, especially around the belly.
- Cortisol
Ongoing inflammation stresses the body, and that raises cortisol. Elevated cortisol leads to cravings, insulin resistance, and fat storage, especially around the midsection. Cortisol also disrupts thyroid function which will also play a role especially with autoimmune thyroid disorders like Hashimoto’s etc. Cortisol has a huge role in gut disruption which is a significant player in autoimmune disorders and weight gain, as well.
- Gut disruption
Many autoimmune conditions impact the gut lining, leading to food sensitivities, poor nutrient absorption, and increased inflammation; all of which affect energy, hormones, and metabolism.
Why So Many Women Are Misdiagnosed
Autoimmune issues don’t always show up on standard labs. And for many women, the symptoms are brushed off as “just stress,” “just aging,” or “just needing to lose weight.”
By the time we meet them at NuBloom, many women have been dismissed for years.
We hear things like:
“They told me everything looks fine.”
“I just need to eat less.”
“I’m too tired to exercise and they told me to try harder.”
You are not crazy. You are not lazy. And it is not your fault.
So What Can You Do?
At NuBloom, we start by running the right labs – looking deeper than traditional panels to uncover thyroid antibodies, nutrient depletions, inflammation markers, gut health, and more.
Then we create a plan that supports the root cause, including:
- Anti-inflammatory nutrition (think Mediterranean, not restrictive)
- Targeted supplements for gut healing, thyroid support, and immune balance
- Hormone support if needed
- Nervous system regulation to calm stress signals that keep inflammation high
- Realistic movement that doesn’t overtax the body
NuBloom’s Bottom Line:
Autoimmunity doesn’t have to mean a lifetime of symptoms, exhaustion, and weight that won’t budge.
But healing won’t come from a new diet or more willpower.
It starts with understanding what your body is really fighting, and why it’s protecting you the only way it knows how.
Your body isn’t failing you.
It’s talking to you.
Let’s start listening.
Want to find out what’s really going on with your body?
Take our free quiz at www.mynubloom.com or book a consultation to get labs that look deeper, answers that make sense, and a healing plan that actually works.
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, medication, or wellness program. NuBloom provides access to licensed medical professionals through individualized programs, but blog content does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Bloom wisely.