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Getting rid of hormonal belly fat involves treating the underlying cause along with diet changes, regular exercise, and stress management
Unexplained weight gain can be upsetting, especially when it’s around your waistline. In some cases, it can even indicate that something more serious is going on, such as a hormonal imbalance.
Hormones play an important role in controlling your metabolism, appetite, satiety, and energy, all of which are regulated by finely coordinated mechanisms in your brain.
Getting rid of hormonal belly fat involves treating the underlying cause along with other lifestyle modifications, such as diet changes, regular exercise, and stress management.
What hormonal imbalances can cause belly fat?
- Thyroid: The thyroid gland secretes hormones that control metabolism, a process by which the body consumes energy. When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), most body processes slow down, which leads to weight gain, especially around the abdomen. According to the American Thyroid Association, weight gain due to hypothyroidism may be caused by a buildup of salt and water as opposed to a buildup of fat.
- Cortisol: Cortisol is released in response to stressful situations. When you are agitated, your body goes into flight-or-fight or survival mode, triggered by the secretion of cortisol by the adrenal gland. Increased cortisol can lead to the accumulation of fat around the abdomen.
- Leptin: Leptin helps you feel full after a meal. However, when leptin levels increase and lead to leptin resistance, this can cause increased food intake and fat accumulation in the abdomen.
- Estrogen: Low testosterone levels may reduce libido and increase abdominal fat in both men and women.
- Testosterone: Low testosterone levels in males decrease growth and increase fat accumulation in the body. Increased testosterone levels in females increase insulin resistance, which leads to the accumulation of abdominal fat.
4 signs of hormonal belly fat
- Not feeling satiated: Even after meals, you do not feel full and have the urge to eat more. This is because stress hormones indirectly impact your metabolism. Estrogen and testosterone imbalances can also affect leptin levels, which can lead to an increase in abdominal fat.
- Weight gain only in the abdomen: Whenever there is a drop in estrogen levels, there is a high chance of weight gain around the abdomen. This is mostly seen in women going through menopause and those who exercise excessively or have pituitary problems.
- Sugar cravings: With the increase in insulin resistance, your cells may not be able to use sugar for energy. Increased insulin resistance reflexively increases leptin levels. Leptin makes the cells more insulin resistant, and at a particular point, both leptin and insulin cannot work on the cells. This increases sugar cravings, and with increased sugar intake, excess fat is deposited in the abdomen.
- Hair loss: Hair loss along with increased abdominal fat indicates an underactive thyroid gland, which reduces the production of thyroid hormones. With decreased thyroid hormones, the metabolic rate reduces contributing to weight gain, fatigue, constipation, hair loss, and decreased libido.
QUESTION
Weight loss occurs in the belly before anywhere else.
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How to treat hormonal belly fat
Correcting hormonal imbalances
If abdominal fat is caused by hormonal changes, consult a doctor about how to correct imbalances. They may prescribe medications and suggest lifestyle modifications based on your condition.
Reducing caloric intake
Avoiding sugars and alcohol goes a long way, and can help curb the urge to indulge in unhealthy foods. This especially helps in cases of polycystic ovarian syndrome or disease-induced weight gain. Increasing exercise
Regular exercise can help burn excess fat around the abdomen, reduce the risk of diseases (such as cardiovascular diseases), improve stamina, promote bone health, and promote sleep.