Illustration depicting the impact of adrenalectomy on body composition, highlighting fat cells, muscle fibers, and metabolic processes

Body Composition Changes After Adrenal Gland Removal: What You Need to Know

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discovering the Impact of Adrenalectomy on Your Body and Health"

The human body is a complex machine, and every part plays a vital role in keeping us healthy. The adrenal glands, small but mighty organs located above the kidneys, are essential for regulating stress, metabolism, and other critical functions. Sometimes, these glands can develop issues, such as tumors or overproduction of hormones, necessitating their surgical removal—a procedure known as adrenalectomy.

If you're facing an adrenalectomy or simply curious about how it affects the body, this article breaks down the changes in body composition that can occur after the procedure. We'll delve into the science, discuss the impacts on your overall health, and offer insights to help you navigate this transformative journey.

This comprehensive guide will explore the key findings from research, helping you understand how adrenalectomy affects your body. We'll also look at how these changes relate to your well-being, providing you with knowledge to empower you on your health journey.

Understanding the Impact of Adrenalectomy on Body Composition

Illustration depicting the impact of adrenalectomy on body composition, highlighting fat cells, muscle fibers, and metabolic processes

Adrenalectomy, the surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands, is often performed to treat conditions like Cushing's syndrome, adrenal tumors, or other adrenal disorders. While this procedure can be life-saving, it also triggers several changes in your body composition. These changes often include alterations in body fat distribution, muscle mass, and metabolic health.

Research consistently shows that people with adrenal gland disorders often have unusual body compositions. For example, those with conditions like Cushing's syndrome tend to accumulate visceral fat (fat stored deep in the abdomen), which is linked to higher health risks. After an adrenalectomy, these body composition imbalances can shift significantly, highlighting the need to understand and manage these changes.

Visceral Fat: Studies reveal that after adrenalectomy, there is a decrease in visceral fat. This is important because higher visceral fat levels are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders.
Muscle Mass: Those with adrenal gland issues may lose muscle mass. Adrenalectomy can help restore muscle mass, thus improving physical function and overall health.
Skeletal Muscle Radiodensity (SMD): SMD, a marker of muscle quality, tends to increase after adrenalectomy, which shows an improvement in muscle health.

These findings showcase the substantial changes that can happen to your body after an adrenalectomy. By understanding these shifts in body composition, you can take active steps to improve your health, which includes healthy habits, and making better choices.

Taking Control: Managing Your Health After Adrenalectomy

The path after an adrenalectomy may bring changes, but it also offers opportunities to improve your health. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular check-ups with your healthcare provider are vital steps to make sure that your health improves. By staying informed, proactive, and supported, you can navigate the challenges and reap the benefits of this procedure. Focus on your health; you've got this.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1111/cen.13902, Alternate LINK

Title: Changes Of Computed Tomography‐Based Body Composition After Adrenalectomy In Patients With Endogenous Hypercortisolism

Subject: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Journal: Clinical Endocrinology

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Namki Hong, Jooyeon Lee, Cheol Ryong Ku, Kichang Han, Cho Rok Lee, Sang Wook Kang, Yumie Rhee

Published: 2018-12-09

Everything You Need To Know

What is adrenalectomy and why is it performed?

Adrenalectomy is the surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands. It's often performed to treat conditions such as Cushing's syndrome, adrenal tumors, or other adrenal disorders where the adrenal glands are causing health problems due to hormone overproduction or cancerous growth. The goal is to alleviate symptoms and improve overall health.

How does adrenalectomy affect visceral fat, and why is this significant?

Adrenalectomy typically leads to a decrease in visceral fat. This is significant because high levels of visceral fat, which is stored deep in the abdomen, are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Reducing visceral fat through adrenalectomy can therefore improve metabolic health and lower these risks.

What changes might occur in muscle mass after undergoing adrenalectomy?

Individuals with adrenal gland disorders often experience muscle mass loss. Adrenalectomy can help restore muscle mass, leading to improvements in physical function and overall health. This restoration of muscle mass is crucial for maintaining strength, mobility, and metabolic rate, all of which contribute to a better quality of life post-surgery.

What is Skeletal Muscle Radiodensity (SMD), and how does it change after adrenalectomy? What does this change indicate about muscle health?

Skeletal Muscle Radiodensity (SMD) is a marker of muscle quality. After adrenalectomy, SMD tends to increase, indicating an improvement in muscle health. Higher SMD suggests that the muscle tissue is becoming denser and more functional, which reflects better muscle quality and overall physical well-being. This is a positive outcome of the surgery.

Beyond the specific changes in visceral fat, muscle mass and Skeletal Muscle Radiodensity (SMD), what broader steps can individuals take to manage their health and ensure the best possible outcomes following adrenalectomy?

Following adrenalectomy, it's crucial to adopt a comprehensive approach to health management. This includes regular exercise to maintain and improve muscle mass, a balanced diet to support metabolic health and manage weight, and regular check-ups with a healthcare provider to monitor hormone levels and overall health. Staying informed about potential changes and being proactive with lifestyle choices can significantly improve long-term health and well-being after the procedure.