Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen Peptides and SHBG With Age: Why Binding Proteins Rise Over Time and Weight Loss Gets Harder
You feel older than you should and your body will not respond anymore
You are not trying to look 25 again.
You just want to feel like yourself.
But lately, everything feels harder.
You are more tired than you used to be.
Your workouts do not work the same.
The weight around your middle will not budge.
Your labs come back “normal” again.
Patients say this all the time.
“I feel like I aged ten years overnight.”
“I do everything right and still gain weight.”
“No one can tell me why.”
This is where SHBG and age often come into the picture.
What Is SHBG and Why It Matters More As You Get Older
SHBG stands for sex hormone binding globulin.
Think of it like a sponge.
It soaks up your testosterone and holds onto it.
When that happens, your body cannot use it.
As you age, SHBG often rises.
That means less free testosterone, even if total levels look fine.
This is why you can feel worse over time while labs stay “normal.”
Why SHBG Often Rises With Age
This part is rarely explained in doctor visits.
SHBG can increase due to:
- Chronic stress
- Inflammation
- Poor sleep
- Insulin resistance
- Long term calorie restriction
- Aging itself
Patients often say:
“I eat less than I used to.”
“I’m more careful than ever.”
“My body still feels stuck.”
Your body is not failing you.
It is adapting to years of stress and strain.
How Rising SHBG Affects Weight Loss
When SHBG goes up, usable testosterone goes down.
That leads to:
- Slower metabolism
- Loss of muscle
- Easier fat storage
- Lower motivation and drive
This is why weight loss feels impossible no matter how disciplined you are.
You are not lacking willpower.
Your hormones are being bound up.
Why Conventional Medicine Misses This Pattern
In most insurance based care, SHBG is not routinely checked.
Doctors often focus on total testosterone only.
If that number falls inside the lab range, the conversation ends.
No one connects:
- Age related hormone binding
- Symptoms you feel every day
- Why weight loss stopped working
You leave feeling dismissed and frustrated.
How Functional Medicine Looks at SHBG and Aging
Functional medicine looks at the whole hormone picture.
We use advanced testing to look at:
- Total testosterone
- Free testosterone
- SHBG levels
- Cortisol and stress response
- Inflammation and insulin markers
We ask how aging, stress, and lifestyle are shaping your hormones.
That is where clarity starts.
Is Tirzepatide a Peptide and Why People Ask As They Age
Yes. Tirzepatide is a peptide.
Peptides are small messengers that tell your body what to do.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide help reduce appetite and control blood sugar.
Many people ask about these because weight gain feels out of control.
Patients tell us:
“I don’t want to be on meds forever.”
“I’m scared to stop and gain it all back.”
“I want to fix the real problem.”
Peptides can help some people short term.
They do not fix rising SHBG or age related hormone binding.
Supporting the Body as It Changes Over Time
In functional medicine, we focus on support, not force.
That includes stress regulation, sleep, nutrition, and recovery.
Some people benefit from foundational tools like hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides to support joints, gut health, and inflammation so their body can tolerate movement and healing again.
When the body feels supported, hormones work better.
Why Feeling “Older” Is a Clue, Not a Sentence
If you feel worn down, that matters.
If weight gain started quietly and will not stop, that matters.
If you feel ignored, that matters too.
Aging does not mean giving up.
It means your body needs a different approach.
Want to Learn More Before Making Any Big Decisions?
If you are tired of being told this is just aging and want to understand why weight loss feels so hard now, education is the best place to start.
Our podcasts and webinars explain hormone changes, SHBG, and why functional medicine looks deeper than lab ranges.
No pressure.
No quick fixes.
Just clear explanations that help you finally understand what your body is asking for.
When you understand the root cause, the path forward feels possible again.