What is a hormonal belly?

synergywellnesscenter.com - Hormonal Belly Fat: What Is It and How to Get Rid of It

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What Are the Causes of Hormonal Belly Fat?

So, what exactly is hormonal belly? A hormonal belly is lower abdominal weight gain caused by an imbalance of hormones. Hormones help regulate many bodily functions such as our metabolism, sex drive, hunger and reproductive functions. An imbalance of your hormones resulting in certain hormone levels being too low or too high can cause excess weight gain in the lower belly. Let’s go over some of the most common causes of hormonal belly fat.

1. Menopause

Menopause, also known as the change of life, results in a significant change in hormone levels. It occurs naturally for most women after the age of 45 once their ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. A woman will have reached menopause if she has not had a period for over a year. Studies published by the National Institute of Health have shown that menopause and weight gain are related. A significant change in hormone levels, especially the decreased production of the hormone estrogen, can result in excess abdominal fat. And because menopause occurs at a later stage in life, age and altered amounts of exercise and diet changes can also influence how much weight a woman could gain during this time.

2. Slow Thyroid

A thyroid releases hormones responsible for controlling our metabolism, which is how our bodies use energy. Because these hormones are responsible for such a vital process, they can ultimately affect several organs and affect how much energy your body is burning throughout the day. Hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones to meet your body’s needs. Without enough thyroid hormones, many of your body’s functions will slow down. One of those functions includes your body burning energy from the food you are eating at a slower rate, resulting in weight gain, especially in the lower abdomen.

3. Increased or Imbalanced Cortisol Levels

Cortisol is a hormone that helps the body manage and respond to stress or danger and plays an essential role in our flight or fight response. When you feel stressed, your adrenal glands will produce more cortisol, which sends signals to your body to store more fat. Suppose you are dealing with high levels of stress, anxiety or any stress-related disorders. In that case, your body will produce increased amounts of cortisol, and high cortisol levels can lead to excess belly fat and weight gain.

4. Estrogen

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Estrogen is a hormone associated with the reproductive organs and is responsible for sexual characteristics. Estrogen levels can significantly impact how body fat is distributed, which often changes as we age. As we discussed above, menopause will cause estrogen levels to decrease, resulting in weight gain around the abdominal area. Postmenopausal women will stop producing estrogen in their ovaries and will instead produce it in their body fat in much lower amounts. If your body has low estrogen levels, it could be the cause of your hormonal belly fat.

5. Insulin Resistance

The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which is activated whenever we eat. It is primarily responsible for allowing glucose to enter our cells and give our body energy from the food we eat. It can also help regulate our blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance affects millions of Americans and can also be a cause of hormonal weight gain. If your cells become resistant to insulin, they can’t store glucose like they should, resulting in high blood sugar and affecting your body’s ability to store fat. High insulin levels will signal your body to store more fat, especially around the abdomen. If you have insulin resistance, it could be the culprit of your lower belly fat.

6. High Leptin

High levels of the hormone leptin are also associated with increased weight gain in the lower belly. Fat cells release leptin, which sends signals to your brain that trigger a feeling of fullness after eating, signaling that your body has stored enough fat. If you are overweight, your body will produce high leptin levels. Too many signals from fat cells can bombard your brain, causing it to get confused and stop responding to the leptin signals. High leptin levels can lead to excess hunger because you don’t feel full, resulting in weight gain.

Signs Your Hormones Are Causing Weight Gain

Several different factors can cause belly fat, including gender, age, dietary habits and amounts of physical exercise and hormonal misfiring. So how can you tell if hormones are the cause of your abdominal weight gain? While you can look out for some signs, it’s important to discuss any of your questions with a doctor to identify the root cause. Sometimes it’s not always so obvious and can vary from person to person. Here are a few warning signs and symptoms you can look out for to help identify the cause of your belly fat:

You Constantly Feel Stressed or Anxious

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If you are currently experiencing an event that is causing you a lot of stress or work in a high-stress career that makes you feel anxious, your body could be producing high levels of the hormone cortisol. If you are constantly feeling this way, your body will be producing high levels of cortisol to help you manage that stress. As a result, this hormone can signal your body to store more fat, resulting in weight gain, mainly in the abdominal region.

You’re Losing Hair

If you are experiencing an accelerated amount of hair loss with an increase in belly fat, your hormones could be to blame. Various hormones can cause hair loss, including underactive thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones help manage your body’s energy and metabolism, meaning they can affect your body weight if you aren’t producing enough hormones. Thyroid hormones also work together with several other hormones, proteins and chemical messages in the body. Inadequate levels of thyroid hormones can result in hair loss, fatigue, constipation and weight gain. If you’re experiencing both hair loss and weight gain, an underactive thyroid could be the culprit.

You’re Experiencing New Cravings

Hormones might cause your hormonal belly if you’re experiencing some new cravings that are unusual for you, especially for sugary foods. If you’re finding yourself with a constant sweet tooth, your body might be struggling with insulin resistance. Due to your cells not properly absorbing insulin, high insulin levels will signal your body to store more fat. Elevated insulin levels can also cause increased amounts of the hormone leptin, which gives you a feeling of fullness after eating. High leptin levels combined with insulin resistance can lead you to start excessively eating sugary foods, resulting in lower belly weight gain over time.

What Causes Hormone Imbalance?

A hormone imbalance can be the root cause of your struggles to get rid of belly fat. Many different factors can cause a hormone imbalance, including your diet, physical exercise routine and even your age and genetics. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of hormone imbalance.

synergywellnesscenter.com - Hormonal Belly Fat: What Is It and How to Get Rid of It

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