For both women and men, a hormonal imbalance can cause weight gain. This is a common and natural thing that happens as you age - either your body is not producing enough of a specific hormone, or producing too much of one. Hormones help us control the way our body responds to certain stimuli - like how we digest the food we eat, how often we exercise if we get enough sleep, and if we are too stressed. All of these factors can play a serious role in keeping your body at a healthy weight.