Hormonal Belly
Unexplained weight gain can be frustrating, especially when you feel like you’re doing all the right things. If you’ve been working out most days of the week, eating a super healthy diet but instead of losing weight, you’ve gained some, especially around your stomach area, it might not be your fault at all. In that case, you might be suffering from hormonal belly.
To put it into simple words, the hormonal belly is the excess weight gained around the stomach due to hormones. Hormones help regulate many bodily functions, including metabolism, stress, hunger, and sex drive. If a person has a deficiency in certain hormones, it may result in weight gain around the abdomen, which is known as a hormonal belly.
HORMONAL BELLY CAUSES AND TREATMENTS
Hormonal belly from Thyroid Hormones
The thyroid releases hormones that help to control metabolism, which is the way the body uses energy. As a result, these hormones affect each organ in the body. Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. When this happens, many of the body’s functions slow down, including the metabolic rate. When the metabolic rate slows down, it reduces the number of calories the body burns on a daily basis, and often contributing to weight gain, particularly around your midsection. The American Thyroid Association state that the weight gain may not necessarily be due to the build-up of fat but may be due to the accumulation of salt and water.
Treatment: Your doctor can prescribe levothyroxine, which is a medication that mimics natural thyroid hormones. A person can expect to lose less than 10% of body weight as most of the weight gain with hypothyroidism is the accumulation of salt and water. However, once a person’s thyroid levels are in the typical range, their ability to gain and lose weight is the same as those without hypothyroidism.
Hormonal belly from Cortisol
Cortisol helps the mind and body manage stress and plays a key role in the fight-or-flight response. When a person feels anxious or stressed, the body often goes into survival mode. When this happens, the adrenal glands produce more cortisol, which triggers the body to store more fat. The body often redistributes this fat to the stomach, chest, and face. However, according to the NIDDK, if the body continues to produce high levels of cortisol for an extended period, it can lead to more severe conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome, heart conditions, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Treatment: Treatment depends on the cause. If a person has Cushing’s syndrome, treatment may include drug changes or surgery to remove a tumour. However, if cortisol levels increase due to stress, a person can try some natural ways to reduce it.
Hormonal belly from Leptin
The fat cells release a hormone called leptin. Leptin targets nerve cells in the brain, particularly the hypothalamus, and triggers a feeling of fullness. According to some studies, the leptin levels in the body correlate to the amount of fat the body has stored. Higher leptin levels tell the brain that a person has stored enough fat, triggering the feeling of fullness after eating. People with overweight tend to have lots of body fat in the cells and high levels of leptin. In theory, the brain should know that the body has stored enough energy. However, if the signalling between leptin and the brain is not working, leptin resistance can occur.
Treatment: Your doctor may recommend lifestyle interventions to reduce inflammation, that causes leptin resistance, such as exercising and/ or eating an anti-inflammatory diet.
Hormonal belly from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
According to the Office on Women’s Health (OWH), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is common, affecting approximately 1 in 10Trusted Source females of reproductive age. According to the OWH, females with PCOS may have higher levels of androgens, or male hormones, and higher insulin levels, which is a hormone that affects how the body turns food into energy. As a result, people may gain weight, particularly around the abdomen.
Treatment: Hormonal birth control methods may help treat PCOS in females who do not want to become pregnant. Drugs such as metformin may ease insulin resistance. Dietary changes, especially the elimination of foods that cause blood sugar spikes, can also help.
Hormonal belly from Menopause
When a person enters menopause, estrogen levels drop and educed estrogen levels can increase abdominal fat in menopausal women.
Treatment: A 2018 analysis suggests that hormone replacement therapy may help reduce belly fat. A person can also exercise regularly and maintain a healthful diet.
Hormonal belly from Period-related fluid retention
Some people retain fluid during their period. This can cause bloating, especially in the stomach, and temporary weight gain. A study, of 765 menstrual cycles in 62 females found that they reported the most fluid retention on the first day of their periods, with fluid retention steadily declining each day after that. The researchers did not find a correlation between fluid retention and hormone levels, suggesting something else might explain this phenomenon.
Treatment: A person can try dietary and lifestyle changes to help reduce fluid retention and bloating during menstruation.
SIGNS OF A HORMONAL BELLY
You feel less satiated after eating – Include flax seeds, cruciferous veggies, and fermented foods in your diet.
You’re always stressed – Try adopting a daily meditation practice that will help you find calm and better manage life stressors.
Your weight gain happens only in the abdomen – Choose a low carbohydrate eating plan and instead eat foods rich in fibre, protein, and healthy fat.
You crave sugar all the time – One way to increase your leptin sensitivity is by engaging in high-intensity interval training, also known as HIIT workouts.
You’re always hungry – The best way is to get proper sleep as it’s a key factor in ensuring your ghrelin secretion is regulated. Get between 7 to 9 hours per night
You’re losing hair – Book an appointment with your doctor because the hair loss is usually due to an unbalance in thyroid levels and, as said before, thyroid issues can only be treated by prescribed medication.
